Projects per year
Abstract
Purpose
– For the vast majority of cisgendered people who experience alignment between the sex they were assigned at birth, the body they have and their gender identity they are comfortable with (Schilt and Westbrook, 2009), the experience of trans people is a distant one. More of us share an experience of aging and the associated concerns about reduced independence, deterioration of health and increased need for care and support. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
– For trans elders, the experience of aging has specific features that have a major impact on their lives if not understood, planned for and responded to appropriately. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study exploring trans peoples experiences, concerns and suggestions for how agencies providing elder care can better meet their expectations (Jones, 2013).
Findings
– The research revealed low confidence in the ability of current aged care services to meet the needs of trans elders due to a limited understanding of the relationship between health and social care specific to trans people; undervaluing the networks in trans people’s lives; the need to demonstrate culturally competent services and real concerns regarding tackling discrimination and abuse. Despite legislative advancements, there was a sense that activism is central to tackling these issues and trans people are articulating their demands for shaping future provision. The research identifies a number of recommendations for care providers and future areas of research.
Originality/value
– In response to identifying an absence of trans voices being heard on the subject of trans elder care, this study sought to understand expectations of services, amplify the voices of the participants and share the priorities they articulated to influence future service design and practice.
– For the vast majority of cisgendered people who experience alignment between the sex they were assigned at birth, the body they have and their gender identity they are comfortable with (Schilt and Westbrook, 2009), the experience of trans people is a distant one. More of us share an experience of aging and the associated concerns about reduced independence, deterioration of health and increased need for care and support. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
– For trans elders, the experience of aging has specific features that have a major impact on their lives if not understood, planned for and responded to appropriately. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study exploring trans peoples experiences, concerns and suggestions for how agencies providing elder care can better meet their expectations (Jones, 2013).
Findings
– The research revealed low confidence in the ability of current aged care services to meet the needs of trans elders due to a limited understanding of the relationship between health and social care specific to trans people; undervaluing the networks in trans people’s lives; the need to demonstrate culturally competent services and real concerns regarding tackling discrimination and abuse. Despite legislative advancements, there was a sense that activism is central to tackling these issues and trans people are articulating their demands for shaping future provision. The research identifies a number of recommendations for care providers and future areas of research.
Originality/value
– In response to identifying an absence of trans voices being heard on the subject of trans elder care, this study sought to understand expectations of services, amplify the voices of the participants and share the priorities they articulated to influence future service design and practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 50-60 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Quality in Ageing and Older Adults |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 13 Apr 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Special Issue: Older LGBTI adultsResearch Groups and Themes
- Ageing Futures
Keywords
- Trans
- cultural competence
- cisgender
- cisnormative
- trans aging
- trans positive
- social care
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Are you delivering trans positive care?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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DICE: Promoting Social Inclusion and Equality in Housing with Care and Support for older people
Willis, P. B. (Principal Investigator), Vickery, A. Y. (Researcher), Cameron, A. M. (Researcher), Beach, B. (Researcher), Johnson, E. (Researcher), Smith, R. C. (Researcher) & Porteus, J. (Researcher)
14/01/19 → 31/01/22
Project: Research
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ERVIC: Role of volunteers in care settings with older adults
Cameron, A. M. (Principal Investigator), Johnson, E. (Co-Investigator), Willis, P. B. (Co-Investigator), Smith, R. C. (Co-Investigator) & Lloyd, L. E. (Co-Investigator)
1/10/17 → 30/04/19
Project: Research
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