Welcoming Social Wellness: Exploring the Impact of LGBTIQ-Affirming Health and Community Care on Older Gender and Sexuality-Diverse Women's Wellbeing and Sense of Belonging

Older (e.g., 55 years and older) gender and sexuality diverse women (GSD) in New South Wales (NSW), are underserviced by health, social and aged-care programs. Not only is this a concern for these women in NSW but also an emerging issue for ageing LGBTIQ people across Australia. For instance, a 2010 survey of GSD individuals over 60 found that 78% felt they could not find LGBTIQ social events for people their age, with just over 51% of the cohort reporting difficulties locating health care providers who are knowledgeable about LGBTIQ health issues (Smith, McCaslin, Chang, Paulina, & McGrew, 2010). A 2009 survey of 371 gay and lesbian-identifying Queensland residents also found that over 45% were concerned about experiencing sexuality-based discrimination when entering aged-care. Of these participants, significantly more women (75%) harboured concerns about not finding LGBTIQ-specific residential care later in life (Hughes, 2009). This is partially the consequence of poorly informed and ill-equipped health and community services resulting in discrimination or exclusion of GSD women. This in turn, causes GSD women to avoid health services and increases social isolation. Additionally, upon accessing these services, it is not surprising that GSD women are less open about their sexuality and more anxious as a result of heteronormative assumptions made by health and community service professionals which render GSD older people “invisible” (Blando, 2001; Duffy & Healy, 2014, p. 578). Case in point: a recent survey of aged-care residential providers in Western Australia found that nearly 90% of participants were unaware of having ever served GSD clients (GRAI and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, 2010, as cited in Rosenstreich, Comfort & Martin, 2011), and fewer than half of a stratified random sample of 409 General Practitioners in NSW reported feeling comfortable providing care for gay or lesbian patients (Khan, Plummer, Hussain & Minichiello, 2008). These limitations point to the breadth of the issue within society and missed opportunities to support social cohesion. The research outlined in this report provides critical insights into the negotiated experiences of accessing health and social support from participating GSD women, and serves as tangible action addressing the Government’s recent commitment to improving access to LGBTIQ-friendly aged-care services. Understanding these experiences is imperative as we know that GSD women’s health and wellbeing outcomes are poorer than that of their male and heterosexual counterparts (Leonard et al., 2012) and that these outcomes are even worse for older women (Duffy & Healy, 2014). This research aimed to examine and understand older GSD women’s experiences and needs related to health, aged-care and social support services. In particular, this project sought to explore how access and engagement with services was related to women’s sense of community belonging, health and wellbeing