Posted on: 12 May 2023
Dr Chris Wilson, Harrow Lead Older Adult Psychologist and a CNWL LGBT+ Staff Network Committee Member, shares some advice ahead of LGBT+ Elders Day on 16 May in the short film below.
In the film Chris says
"Ageism can pose a barrier for older adults accessing health and social care that can leave them at risk of preventable health comorbidities, social isolation and mental health crises.
For LGBT+ elders, these risks can be magnified for various reasons:
- Statutory services may not be perceived as safe due to historical abuses such as conversion therapies, historical criminalisation of their identities and section 28 which was only lifted in the early 00s.
- Common assumption of heteronormativity within older generations may leave them less open to revealing their true identities and us therefore missing key elements of their health and social needs
- Rife discrimination within social care settings can often make people ‘go back into the closet’
- Social networks for queer older people can be more fragile as there may be less family support, and even when there is family, this may not be a safe source of support. They may have lost friends, (usually younger oriented) LGBT+ spaces may not be accessible to them, and/or they may not feel able to ask us for support to help them reconnect meaningfully
"So, let’s not assume, let's remain curious, let’s use our lanyards as a clear expression of our inclusivity, let’s ask questions such as ‘who’s important in your life/ who has been important in your life etc’, and let’s hold them in mind and make space for them at our queer family tables. We owe them a lot, and they might be in need. And we can learn a lot from them. Queer inter-generational community support is such a powerful thing.
Resources: Opening Doors (opens link) is the LGBT+ arm of Age UK, and offers groups, dementia support, befriending and training. Services can also opt in to their kite mark scheme for LGBT+ inclusion.https://www.openingdoors.lgbt/training-for-professionals