CULTURE & DIVERSITY
How to provide LGBTI inclusive aged care Ensuring everyone feels welcome is vital Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) adults encounter significant barriers when accessing the Australian aged care system. After a lifetime of facing unwelcoming and non-inclusive services, past discrimination can make them reluctant to seek care and receive the support they need. The social isolation experienced by many older Australians is even more significant for older LGBTI people due to factors such as rejection by biological family and lower rates of having children. LGBTI people often rely on informal social support structures, including what is sometimes referred to as ‘family of choice’. Some supports may have broken down due to death or illness, and their family of choice may not be recognised by care services. When older LGBTI people seek care, it can be an isolating experience. They can be less inclined to disclose personal information to staff and other residents due to fear of discrimination. Aged care providers do not always understand their needs and there are few LGBTI-specific services available. Considering the importance of their unique social support systems, providing ways for LGBTI people to sustain connection to their communities is a core component of culturally safe and appropriate aged care for LGBTI people. The Aged Care Quality Standards and Charter of Aged Care Rights (requirement 3a) states that “everyone receiving government-funded aged care is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have their identity, culture, and diversity valued.” It’s important to provide care that is truly inclusive to ensure that older LGBTI people are supported in an environment where their diversity is recognised and valued. 60
Become a verified provider Recent initiatives aimed at addressing issues faced by special needs groups in aged care include the Australian Government’s Specialisation Verification Framework, developed to ensure older people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences can access more reliable information when choosing aged care providers. The framework allows aged care providers to demonstrate and develop their inclusive services, while also helping older people identify verified providers on My Aged Care that offer specialised care for people with diverse backgrounds. It was developed in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety that providers must validate claims of expertise in supporting special needs populations, with nine special needs groups or focus populations recognised in the framework and listed in the Aged Care Act, including LGBTI older people. Unfortunately, there has been limited uptake of this initiative in the sector for LGBTI specialisation. While there is certainly training fatigue that comes with evolving industry requirements, obtaining a specialist verification in delivering care to LGBTI older people is crucial to high-quality service provision. For organisations working to be more inclusive of diverse communities, they can now apply to independently verify their services against the My Aged Care Provider Specialisation Verification Framework. Find out more here: health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/ providing-aged-care-services/reporting/specialisationverification-framework