Imagine feeling that you need to hide away the pictures
of people dearest to you before some visited you. Imagine being told that you
needed to pretend your wife was your sister. Imagine fearing who might come
through your own door.
Stonewall
have already conducted a lot of research into experiences
of older LGBT people, and with a focus of their experiences
or expectations of being cared for. And they – and others -
found examples of all of the above experiences.
Putting all the research together, there is a clear
picture. LGBT people are more likely to be:
- Single
- Childless
- Have less contact with family
- Live alone
- Have alcohol or substance problems
- Have mental health problems
So LGBT people are in a greater need of support. But they
are less likely to get that from family or through “formal” channels. They
worry that they will experience ignorance, lack of understanding or even
intolerance from the people charged with caring for them. And too often they
do.
I’ve been commissioned to build a little on this research
by looking specifically at how LGBT people feel they would be treated by
someone caring, supporting or assisting them in their own home. And I’m sharing
a summary of the findings with all that take part. Eventually, it might lead to
greater confidence in carers from LGBT people; it might lead to better informed
and engaged carers.
So please take the survey, like this post or share the
survey with people in your network: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9ZCPH3Y
Thank you.
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