Evidence-based Recommendations to Inform Best Practices for LGBTQ Older Adults in Long-term Care Settings. (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fasullo, Katherine; McIntosh, Erik; Ruppar, Todd; Ailey, Sarah; Buchholz, Susan
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 851
• Page End: 851
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.3084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older adults are more likely to live alone and have less familial support, which disproportionately contributes to a reliance on long-term care facilities as they age. Best-practice guidelines supported by scholarly literature to care for LGBTQ older adults in long-term care settings do not exist. This review synthesizes literature about LGBTQ older adults in long-term care facilities and provides recommendations for best practice guideline development. Four electronic databases were searched in June 2019 for studies conducted between 2000 – 2019 related to caring for LGBTQ older adults in long-term care settings. An integrative literature review was completed on the twenty eligible studies. Findings showed that LGBTQ participants fear discrimination in long-term care leading to the invisibility of their identities. They recognize a need for increased staff training and the importance of community networks and facility preferences. Long-term care staff have mixed experiences with inclusive practices and complex views of LGBTQ older adults. They experience training deficits and have a need for more expansive training modalities. The recommendations offered by both LGBTQ participants and long-term care staff are to revise policies and forms as well as provide widespread training and education. LGBTQ participants recommend that their unique identities be recognized within long-term care while long-term care staff recommend leadership involvement to change culture and practice. This review provides evidence-based recommendations to promote equitable healthcare to the LGBTQ older adult population and calls to attention the need for long-term care settings to uniformly follow best-practices.