Coming out narratives of older gay men living in New Zealand

Lived Experiences of Older LGBTQI+ Adults Aged 60 or Older: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis

Despite increasing research on LGBTQI+ people's experiences, studies specifically focusing on those aged 60 and older remain scarce. This group has faced unique challenges that younger generations may not have encountered. The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative research on the lived experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people aged 60 years and older. We followed the ENTREQ reporting guidelines. Articles were searched in ASSIA, CINAHL, Medline, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, and Sociological Services Abstracts, with additional gray literature searches. Out of 3207 articles, 1865 were assessed using the SPIDER (sample, phenomenon of interest, design, evaluation, research type) framework. The quality of 22 articles was evaluated using SBU guidelines. Eight articles, involving 169 LGBTQI+ participants aged 60-89 years from Australia, Canada, Sweden, and the United States were included. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three themes: (a) the ongoing work of being open or of concealing, (b) the need for recognition and belonging, and (c) resilience despite challenges. Participants shared their journeys of self-discovery, highlighting their strength in the face of discrimination, as they continued to find their authentic selves over the years. While some positive and negative experiences were common across identities, others were specific for subgroups of participants, which should inform future studies.

A Qualitative Description of Direct Care Workers of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Older Adults

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine direct care worker (DCW) perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) older adults living in long-term care, assisted living, and home health settings. DCWs provide the closest interaction with LGBT older adults in these settings. The perceptions DCWs have toward LGBT older adults is important because the quality of care can be influenced by negative attitudes. Methodology: Qualitative description was used to synthesize what is known about DCWs' perceptions toward LGBT older adults. Results: The overarching theme, "Care is Different, but Not my Care," was supported by the categories Cues of Stereotyping, Cues of Prejudice, and DCWs' Social System and Reported Care. Application: Specific implications for practice (i.e., training, recruitment, retention strategies) and policy (i.e., mandated staffing ratios, pay) are explicated to guide future interventions to ensure equitable, quality care in health care.

Experiences and perceptions of residential and home care services among older lesbian women and gay men in Australia

The needs of older lesbian and gay people regarding access and use of aged-care services remain underresearched. This paper reports the findings of 33 qualitative interviews with older lesbian women and gay men about their perceptions and experiences of residential aged-care and home-based aged-care services in Australia. The focus of this paper is their preparedness for using aged-care services. The results highlight that participants had a number of concerns related to accessing residential-care services in particular, including perceptions of a lack of inclusivity and concerns of potential for discrimination and hostility, loss of access to community and partners, decreased autonomy and concerns relating to quality of care and the potential for elder abuse. Participants noted a number of strategies they employed in avoiding residential-care services, including the use of home-care services, renovating the home for increased mobility, moving to locations with greater access to outside home-care services, a preference for lesbian/gay-specific housing and residential-care options if available, and the option of voluntary euthanasia to ensure dignity and autonomy. Participants, on the whole, were hopeful that they would never require the use of residential-care services, with some believing that having current good health or the support of friends could prevent this from happening. The findings suggest that older lesbian and gay people have a variety of concerns with aged-care and may need additional support and education to improve their perceptions and experiences of services, whether these are needed presently or in the future.

Accessing rural health services: Results from a qualitative narrative gerontological study

Objective

Explore how older adults’ talk about accessing rural community health services.

Methods

A qualitative narrative gerontological approach explored issues related to accessing health services in their community. Semi‐structured digitally recorded individual interviews were undertaken with 32 community‐dwelling older people aged between 75 and 93 years. A narrative data analytic process was undertaken. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research guidelines were followed to ensure rigour in this study.

Results

Three collective narratives resulted from the data analytic process: (a) “accessing local health services”; (b) “accessing specialist services”; and (c) “accessing emergency services.”

Conclusions

Narrators identified a number of issues related to accessing rural health services. These included long waiting times, lack of continuity in care provision by doctors and difficulties accessing specialist and emergency services. Nurses were frequently cited as a reliable point of contact for these older people. Expansion of nursing roles would enhance the provision of rural health‐care services.

Sexual minority men and the experience of undergoing treatment for prostate cancer: An integrative review

INTRODUCTION

Gay, bisexual and queer (GBQ) men with prostate cancer have unique experiences of the prostate cancer journey. The current integrative review aimed to synthesise existing scientific literature for the purpose of identifying GBQ men's psychosocial experience of undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

METHODS

We utilised the Whittemore and Knafl (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52, 546-553) integrative review methodology and the Garrard (Health sciences literature review made easy. Jones & Bartlett Publishers) matrix method.

RESULTS

After a systematic search, 18 quantitative and non-empirical studies were included for thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: (a) Prostate cancer, and its treatment affect sexual wellbeing, including negatively affecting their relationships and sense of self. (b) Health care is heteronormative, exemplified by clinicians dismissing GBQ men's concerns, leading GBQ men to fare worse on psychosocial outcomes, including treatment satisfaction, in comparison with heterosexual counterparts. (c) Prostate cancer affects social support. GBQ men rely on an expansive support network, but often isolate themselves during prostate cancer treatment as to not be burden others.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial supportive care needs to address GBQ men's sexual, emotional and social needs. Future psycho-oncologic trials are needed, especially on GBQ-specific peer-support interventions.

Iridescent Life Course: LGBTQ Aging Research and Blueprint for the Future - A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

LGBTQ* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) older adults are demographically diverse and growing populations. In an earlier 25-year review of the literature on sexual orientation and aging, we identified four waves of research that addressed dispelling negative stereotypes, psychosocial adjustment to aging, identity development, and social and community-based support in the lives of LGBTQ older adults.

OBJECTIVES

The current review was designed to develop an evidence base for the field of LGBTQ aging as well as to assess the strengths and limitations of the existing research and to articulate a blueprint for future research.

METHODS

Using a life course framework, we applied a systematic narrative analysis of research on LGBTQ aging. The review included 66 empirical peer-reviewed journal articles (2009-2016) focusing on LGBTQ adults aged 50 years and older, as well as age-based comparisons (50 years and older with those younger).

RESULTS

A recent wave of research on the health and well-being of LGBTQ older adults was identified. Since the prior review, the field has grown rapidly. Several findings were salient, including the increas-ed application of theory (with critical theories most often used) and more varied research designs and methods. While -existing life course theory provided a structure for the investigation of the social dimensions of LGBTQ aging, it was limited in its attention to intersectionality and the psychological, behavioral, and biological work emerging in the field. There were few studies addressing the oldest in these -communities, bisexuals, gender non-binary older adults, intersex, -older adults of color, and those living in poverty. -Conclusions: The Iridescent Life Course framework highlights the interplay of light and environment, creating dynamic and fluid colors as perceived from different angles and perspectives over time. Such an approach incorporates both queering and trans-forming the life course, capturing intersectionality, fluidity over time, and the psychological, behavioral, and biological as well as social dimensions of LGBTQ aging. Work is needed that investigates trauma, differing configurations of risks and resources over the life course, inequities and opportunities in representation and capital as LGBTQ adults age, and greater attention to subgroups that remain largely invisible in existing research. More depth than breadth is imperative for the field, and multilevel, longitudinal, and global initiatives are needed.

Aging Perceptions in Older Gay and Bisexual Men in Portugal: A Qualitative Study

Aims and Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions toward aging among Portuguese gay and bisexual men over 60 years old. Background Despite the growth of the older population, and the increased visibility and acceptance of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in Western countries, the experience of aging in older gay and bisexual men is only beginning to be understood. Design We used a qualitative research methodology, based on critical gerontology, for establishing research questions and to identify the perspectives on the aging process in older gay and bisexual individuals. Methods We used a structured electronic inquiry with 25 gay and bisexual men over 60 years of age from Portugal. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to help identify repeated patterns of meaning in the data set. Results The recurrent themes in the narratives of the aging experiences of the participants in the study were as follows: positive perceptions of aging, negative perceptions of aging, coping with being a gay/bisexual man and family ties, professional care, homophobia/discrimination, relationships and social support, intergenerational differences, mediating role of sexual orientation, sociopolitical changes, and personal characteristics. Conclusion Analysis of perceptions about the aging process in older gay and bisexual men emphasized the desire for normalization in the social awareness of sexual orientation. It is important to continue doing research on this topic and disseminate this information among professionals who work with older lesbian, gay, and bisexual people so that they may better understand how they can meet the specific needs of this population.