CIRCLE (Creating Inclusive Residential Care for LGBTQ+ Elders) Press Release
Researchers from the University of Kent, in collaboration with the University of Surrey and the University of Hertfordshire, have developed a free guide to support care services in (particular care homes) to provide care that is inclusive for LGBTQ+ people.
The guide was co-designed by a group of older LGBTQ+ people, social care professionals and care providers who were involved in all aspects from the outset. The guide offers practical tips about positive actions care staff can take to make their care practice more inclusive for LGBTQ+ residents. It can for example be used in day-to-day care practice, in supervision conversations, and in staff training.
Existing research shows that many older LGBTQ+ people experience discrimination and inequalities when engaging with health and care services in the UK. When it comes to care homes, many older LGBTQ+ people fear having to go back into the closet to be safe. At the same time, previous research has found that many care staff do not have the knowledge and confidence to provide inclusive and affirmative care for older LGBTQ+ people.
The care guide was produced as part of a larger research study examining LGBTQ+ inclusion in care homes called CIRCLE (Creating Inclusive Residential Care for LGBTQ+ Elders) led by Dr Jolie Keemink from the University of Kent’s Centre for Health Services Studies.
Dr Keemink said: ‘Research shows that the older LGBTQ+ population is expected to rely more heavily on social care than their cis-gender, heterosexual counterparts, because they are less likely to have children and more likely to experience a lack of social support. Older LGBTQ+ people may also have unique health risks that increase their likelihood of needing care. There is an urgent need for improvements with regards to LGBTQ+ inclusion within care homes and we hope that this guide can play a useful role in this.’
Sibby Sawyer, a Branch Manager at Bankhouse, Care Outlook in Lambeth said: “I work with Care Outlook as a care provider at Bankhouse which is a flagship extra care scheme in London. Bankhouse is a unique service and provides care services to a diverse community of older people including members of the LGBTQ+ community. So it was very important that we were involved with the CIRCLE project right from the beginning as the end product has a direct impact on the people that live here and work here. It is my hope that this educational resource is put into practice, and that as Care Outlook we are not just allies but providers of an inclusive care service to members of our LGBTQ+ community.”
With the CIRCLE care services guide officially launched, the research team hopes that it will be downloaded and used by many care home providers and other services across the United Kingdom. The team will be collecting data on the impact of the guide, to explore whether it helps staff with their skills and confidence with regards to LGBTQ+ inclusive care provision.
The CIRCLE guide, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey Sussex, is available in several formats. Downloadable and printable formats of the guide, as well as a video version, can be found on https://research.kent.ac.uk/circle-guide/
