LGBT Elderly and LTC Application Essay

Total Length: 821 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 5

Page 1 of 3

Heterosexism is an issue few people mention in long-term care. My position is one FOR the transformation of long-term care facilities to combat potential heterosexism and promote quality care for LGBT elders. This is because out of the millions of elderly or soon to be elderly within the American population, at least three million of them will be from the LGBT community. Since they are homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered, stereotypes, and negative correlations are still associated to this group, it is important to provide changes and modifications in plans of care to suit the needs of LGBT elderly. (Grigorovich) Long-term care of LTC must be provided to all that require it, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification. They should feel comfortable within their environment and be treated with dignity and respect.

While most LTC faculty won't admit to their biases, heterosexism still exists in LTC facilities. In order combat this problem, the government must introduce policy reform that provides protection for the LGBT elderly population in regards to personal rights and visitation rights. "Patient non-discrimination policies could include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classifications. Visitation policies could explicitly grant equal visitation to LGBTQ patients and their visitors.
" (Schwinn and Dinkel 7) If these rights are protected under the law, even employees with clear biases will have to alter their treatment of LGBT elderly regardless of personal feelings on the matter.

Some LTC staff may not have biases and may simply be uneducated when it comes to LGBT issues. Additional training can help circumvent any hiccups in care by educating staff on some specific problems an LGBT elder may have. A study on LGBT awareness training yielded positive changes in how LTC cared for LGBT elderly. "This study concludes that mainstream elder-service provider training on LGBT aging issues results in positive change." Staff may not know the needs of LGBT elderly because the LGBT elderly may hide their sexual preference or gender identity to avoid judgment. Training such as this will not only generate awareness among LTC staff, but will also help guide them in make appropriate choices and provide high quality care.

Education and training seem to be indicators of low quality care in general, but especially with the LGBT elderly community in long-term care facilities. As a 2015 article suggests, certified nurses rated low in terms of homophobia when it came to LGBT elderly.....

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"LGBT Elderly And LTC" (2015, August 31) Retrieved July 5, 2025, from
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Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

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"LGBT Elderly And LTC", 31 August 2015, Accessed.5 July. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/lgbt-elderly-ltc-2152433