Exploring the Health Needs of Aging LGBT Adults in the Cape Fear Region of North Carolina

Abstract

This study explored issues of culturally sensitive healthcare practice and needs among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aging adults in coastal North Carolina. Survey data results indicated the largest problem was a history of verbally harassment and need for culturally sensitive healthcare. In conclusion, culturally sensitive interventions are needed to address the health disparities and unique needs of LGBT aging adults. Cultural sensitivity training for service providers is suggested as a vital step in addressing health disparities of aging LGBT adults. Implications for research include further exploration of health related needs of these often hidden and underserved population groups.

Health Related Quality of Life and Wellness of Aging LGBT Populations in Wilmington and the Cape Fear Coast

“…The LGBT sample had a total of 223 respondents with a mean age of 50.58 (SD=14.89). Survey results indicated a need for more culturally sensitive health provisions with requests for LGBT specific social activities (66%), recreational or wellness activities (52%), and art and cultural activities (50%) [14]. These results are in keeping with prior research showing interest in cultural and physical exercise opportunities such as yoga, exercise classes, etc.…”

“…The rationale for this study is based on recent survey findings of aging LGBT populations in the Cape Fear Region of the North Carolina Coast [14]. The main purpose of the survey was to examine the potential relationship between LGBT respondents in the geographic region and issues about health care.…”

The State of Theory in LGBTQ Aging: Implications for Gerontological Scholarship

“…We found a wide range of types of theories or concepts implied or used in these articles, but several dominant approaches stand out. The most commonly used theory or concept implied or consistently applied revolved around notions of stress (16% of all articles); most often, specifically referencing minority stress and the ways in which members of minority groups experience individual-level and community-level stressors (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Kim, Muraco, & Mincer, 2009; Gardner, de Vries, & Mockus, 2014; Gonzales & Henning-Smith, 2015; Hoy-Ellis & Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2017; Jenkins Morales, King, Hiler, Coopwood, & Wayland, 2014; Kuyper & Fokkema, 2010; Lyons et al, 2018; Mock & Schryer, 2017; Periera et al, 2018; Rowan & Beyer, 2017; Stanley & Duong, 2015; Velduis, Talley, Hancock, Wilsnack, & Hughes, 2017; Woody, 2015), along with conceptualizations of social stress (Kim & Fredriksen-Goldsen, 2017) and combinations of social stress and minority stress (Wight, LeBlanc, deVries, & Detels, 2012). In one case, the concept of minority stress was integrated with a resilience perspective (Woody, 2015).…”

Systematic review on health care professionals’ competencies in the care of LGBT+ individuals

“…Human sexuality is a subject that still has a small presence and little debate in the curricula and in the capacities of health care professionals, and this is further restricted when it involves the specific care of the LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and the + sign for other gender designations: Transsexuals, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals) population (Cesnik & Zerbini, 2017;Rowan & Beyer, 2017;Talan, Drake, Glick, Claiborn, & Seal, 2017). Influences on the lack of training offered in this topic may be due to the socio-historical context based on concepts and debates that go back to the heterosexual binary matrix, which remains a regulating system of sexuality and subjectivity (Chapman, Watkins, Zappia, Nicol, & Shields, 2012b).…”

“…Leading a world ranking in the XXI century indicates that there are serious flaws in the education of the population. In the context of health care, there is a history of LGBT+ being verbally harassed by health care professionals, indicating a greater need for awareness-raising and training actions for these professionals (Rowan & Beyer, 2017).…”