Developing Inclusive Health and Social Care Policies for Older LGBT Citizens Essay Example

concerns about experiencing homophobic treatment from long-term care staff. Homophobic treatment refers to the attitudes and behaviors that show hostility and intolerance towards non-heterosexual sexual identities and same-sex relationships. Research conducted in the United Kingdom has shown that LGBT adults have less confidence in social and health care providers and receive lower levels of support compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Bouman, Arcelus ; Benbow, 2007). The data collection methods included structured interviews and questionnaires, which helped gather evidence on the attitudes and knowledge of care staff and provided a comprehensive understanding of stakeholders' perspectives on inclusion.

Due to the exclusion of care staff working from homes or employed by private or public employers, the quality of evidence is insufficient. Social workers are essential in advocating for human rights and promoting the interests and rights of individuals who do not conform to heterosexuality norms. They are also responsible for assessing long-term care needs and providing micro-level support to home care providers for initial evaluations of elderly LGBT individuals. Social workers can report any areas requiring further development in raising awareness and practicing diversity to commissioning and quality assurance bodies (Concannon, 2009).

The implementation of services that meet the diverse needs of users, including various sexual groups and their life experiences, can be promoted through this dialogue. Social workers can strategically join professional bodies and advocate for quality assurance agencies to monitor and report on the care provided to older LGBT residents. They can also help increase standards through ongoing training and managerial support. Involvement of service users can be maximized by having elderly LGBT individuals serve as community advocates. Social work advocated schemes can organize volunteer visits to

homes, where staff and residents engage in discussions about inclusion and sexuality and conduct audits of the cultural and physical aspects of the home. This approach aligns with the emphasis on co-production between community services and service users in the Social Services and Wellbeing Act, and could potentially be applied in other countries.

Last but not least, there is a need for further progress and research in the training of future social work associates through eligible and post-eligible education. While the standard subjects for social work studies in the United Kingdom focus on incorporating anti-discrimination values into the syllabus, the extent to which qualifying programs for social work address this specifically has not been established.

References

1. Bouman W. P., Arcelus J., Benbow S. M. (2007) ‘Nottingham Study of Sexuality and Ageing (NoSSA II): Attitudes of care staff regarding sexuality and residents: A study in residential and nursing homes’, Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 221, pp. 45–61.
2. Concannon, L. (2009). Developing inclusive health and social care policies for older LGBT citizens. British journal of social work, 39(3), 403-417.
3. Price, E. (2011). Caring for mum and dad: Lesbian women negotiating family and navigating care. British Journal of Social Work, bcr015.