Perth woman June Lowe was among 40 LGBTI representatives to meet the Federal Minister for Aging, Mark Butler last month to discuss how to improve Australia’s aged care system to meet the needs of LGBTI people.
The National LGBTI Health Alliance and ACON were responsible for the roundtable discussion where participants discussed issues such as diversity training for aged care providers. Earlier this year, a Productivity Commission report proposed care standards that catered to ‘sexually diverse communities’.
Lowe is the deputy chairperson for the WA-based Gay and Lesbian Retirement Association Inc (GRAI). Ms Lowe said the minister was very receptive to the group’s ideas.
‘It was all about the changes we would like to see in aged care service provision such as the discrimination that people are experiencing as clients or as relatives of clients and even as staff.’
Lowe said a lot of education about LGBT people was needed in the aged care industry. One example shared was of a lesbian who felt she had to censor herself in her letters to her vision-impaired mother since she knew an aged care worker had to read them out to her.
‘Because she wasn’t confident that the person reading the letter wasn’t homophobic, she had to be really careful about the way she told her stories,’ Lowe said.
‘Altogether, I’d have to say I’ve come away feeling optimistic, [the Minister] was already very conversant with LGBTI issues within aged care,’ she said.
In a statement, the Minister for Aging, Mark Butler said the discussion provided a great opportunity to share ideas and break down barriers that prevent access to aged care services.
‘Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people can face unique challenges throughout their lives as a result of discrimination and social exclusion. This can impact and influence their willingness and ability to access aged care services in their senior years,’ he said.
‘Sadly, many LGBTI people are concerned that their sexuality or gender identity may affect the quality of aged care service provided to them.
‘All older Australians, no matter what their background, gender and sexuality have the right to be safe, respected and free of discrimination.
‘While the vast majority of aged care providers and their staff already provide their clients with the most appropriate care, the Productivity Commission’s final report, Caring for Older Australians, highlighted the need to increase awareness within the aged care industry of the specific needs of people of all sexualities, gender identities and backgrounds.’
ACON President Mark Orr said greater funding and policy initiatives were needed to provide the training nationally across the aged care sector.
‘Research shows that many older LGBTI people fear discrimination and insensitive treatment within the aged care system, either from other residents or from aged care service providers,’ Orr said.
‘People from our community are understandably anxious about how they will be treated by these service providers and an explicit mention of our communities in standards and accreditation systems would give them reassurance in seeking services.’