Grassau P, Stinchcombe A, Thomas R, Wright DK. Centering sexual and gender diversity within Compassionate Communities: insights from a community network of LGBTQ2S+ older adults.
Palliat Care Soc Pract 2021;
15:26323524211042630. [PMID:
34589707 PMCID:
PMC8474303 DOI:
10.1177/26323524211042630]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Rationale:
The Compassionate Communities movement emphasizes the importance of
illness, disability, dying, caregiving, and grief across the
lifespan and highlights the communal responsibility of caring
for one another. There is a need to recognize and incorporate
the needs of diverse communities within this movement and
research on dying, caregiving and grief. An important axis of
this diversity is related to individuals’ sexual orientation and
gender identity.
Methods:
As part of the early phases of Healthy End of Life Project Ottawa,
a Compassionate Communities, community-based, participatory
action research project, we held focus groups with older members
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit
communities. Nine older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, and two-spirit people participated in the focus groups
(mean age = 72 years). Data were analysed using an inductive,
reflexive thematic approach.
Results:
Through an iterative analysis process, we identified themes related
to lifecourse experiences of trauma, the need for safety within
care contexts, the importance of relationships and connection,
as well as participants’ ability to ask for and receive help. A
core tenet of Compassionate Communities involves responding to
the needs of diverse communities with respect to aging,
end-of-life, and grief. Our findings emphasize the importance of
incorporating the voices of diverse sexual and gender identities
and promoting health equity within Compassionate Community
initiatives.
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