Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Ageing and Care: A Literature Study

Abstract

There is an increasing body of research on ageing and end-of-life care (EOLC) of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people in the UK, USA and Australia. In contrast, in South Africa, despite progressive legislation to protect LGBT rights, there has been minimal research in this area. This article reports on a critical review of literature on ageing of the LGBT community. Key themes identified include discrimination by health care workers and health risks for LGBT older people alongside the need for training of health professionals. The article concludes with consideration of the needs of LGBT persons in South Africa.

Cultural Humility: A Way to Reduce LGBTQ Health Disparities at the End of Life

“…[5][6][7][8] These inequities often persist throughout life, and are particularly detrimental during the vulnerable times of the end-of-life, death, and bereavement. 7 LGBTQ people experience many stressors at the end-of-life, such as (1) homophobia and transphobia from medical staff; 9,10 (2) previous discrimination in healthcare settings contributing to avoidance of recommended end-of-life healthcare; [11][12][13] (3) forced outing of sexual orientation or gender identity by medical staff; 14 (4) financial, institutional, and legal barriers which limit partners or loved ones from medical decision-making; 9,14,15 (5) false assumptions that death is related to HIV/AIDS; 6,9 and (6) disenfranchised grief (i.e., "the grief that persons experience when they incur loss that is not or cannot be openly acknowledged, publicly mourned, or socially supported" 16, p.4 ) experienced by surviving loved ones. 9,14,15 These inequities stand in sharp contrast to the quality-of-care standards that hospice and palliative care organizations strive to provide.…”

‘Last-minute mothers’: the construction of age and midlife motherhood in Denmark and Israel

“…There is an almost complete lack of literature on the needs of -and care services for -lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) elders in South Africa and across the African continent. As a result, with the exception of Henderson and Almack (2016), we present here some of the first writings on this topic in South Africa informed by the literature base that exists in relation to our knowledge of elder populations more generally in the region. Taking a social justice-oriented and intersectional lens, we approach this study from an African standpoint by engaging African epistemologies and ontologies in relation to old age, death and sexuality.…”

“…Therefore, many LGBTI people find themselves caught at the intersection of racism, classism and homophobia. Although embedded within the Bill of Rights, the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 makes no explicit reference to best practice guidelines for the care of older members of the LGBTI community (Henderson and Almack, 2016). The limited research to date indicates that older people often do not follow up on their rights regarding end-of-life care (Henderson and Almack, 2016).…”

Reflexão sobre a proposta de implantação de linha de cuidado voltada para a saúde integral da população LGBT

“…Essa iniqüidade se deve tanto ao não conhecimento das especificidades inerentes a esse grupo como, infelizmente, também à discriminação e ao preconceito institucional 10 .…”

“…As demandas em saúde da população LGBT parecem variar quanto a orientação sexual/identidade de gênero, adquirindo conotações particulares na transexualidade 14 , faixa etária 10,15 , etnia/cor, territorialidade e classe social 6 .…”