Older life care for LGBTQ+ gets national attention

New schemes hopefully herald a new dawn for the way LGBTQ+ people can spend their later years

In October, Manchester City Council put out to tender a scheme to build the UK’s first “LGBTaffirmative extra-care scheme” in Whalley Range, south Manchester, with an 18-member LGBTQ+ steering group helping to develop it and 150 places being allocated to LGBTQ+ people aged over 55 and in need of extra physical or mental support.

Such a scheme has been a long time coming and hopefully it heralds a new dawn for the way LGBTQ+ people can spend their later years, as there is no shortage of evidence that many are currently fearful of having to go into a care home.

In 2015 Stonewall released its report Working With Older Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people – a guide for care and support services, which states: “For the one million lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain over the age of 55 growing old is a real concern."

We know from YouGov polling of 1,036 older lesbian, gay and bisexual people and 1,050 heterosexual older people, commissioned by Stonewall, that a significant proportion of older gay people are likely to live alone, have limited family support and rely on formal services for help in the future.

“This ground breaking research, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Later Life, demonstrates that many older gay people have experienced, or fear, discrimination because of their sexual orientation and they say this creates a barrier to receiving appropriate care and treatment.”

One of the main findings was that many older gay people were worried about “having to hide their sexual orientation, about having to move into a care home that is designed for heterosexual people and about a lack of opportunity to socialise with other older gay people”.

Further, 50% were uncomfortable being out to care home staff, 33% to a housing provider, and 20% to a GP.

A 2019 UK government report found evidence of LGBTQ+ communities facing numerous barriers when accessing services, and that people can encounter discrimination, inappropriate questions and curiosity. These barriers can prevent people receiving fair and equal treatment in health and social care settings.

All too aware of these issues, Olly Carter has started LGBTQ-friendly care service Kingsway Care in Hove, operating across Sussex.

When I first lived in Brighton, as a young gay man, I semi-joked about opening up a gay care home on the seafront where we could all grow old disgracefully.

“Maybe one day that ambition will come true, but it looks like Manchester will be the first UK city to achieve that dream. This is great news. We all agree that there is a need for greater residential provision that caters for LGBTQ+ communities.

“However, increasingly many of us choose to remain in our own homes as we grow older. This raises other issues that need to be considered. Some of us might like a helping hand with practical tasks around the home such as support with housework, gardening, pet care, repairs and maintenance, grooming and beauty, home technology and more. Others may be seeking sympathetic companionship: a friendly person with whom to go out for a drink or a meal; or help with a trip to the shops or garden centre. The experience of going to the cinema, theatre or to a sports match can be improved by having someone to discuss it with.

Some may want help organising transport, outings or holidays, whereas others might like to connect with someone who would visit them at home, maybe to play cards, discuss books or cook a meal together.

And Olly is determined to offer as much community help as possible, with free online Christmas events – a show and party hosted by Dolly Rocket and an alternative Queen's speech from Drag With No Name – planned, along with volunteering and fundraising initiatives.

“We plan to launch an online befriending scheme to match DBS-checked volunteers with older people,” he says. “We're also planning to host some online Christmas parties, featuring festive music, games, competitions as the next best thing to the real lunch, dinner or party that may not be possible this year.”

To join in the free Christmas fun head to www.kingswaycare.com/christmas, where pantomimes, a show and a party will all be taking place, culminating in a Carol Concert on Christmas Eve.