Housing and support needs of older LGBT people in Scotland

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A summary series of recent research from Communities Scotland No 67

Housing and support needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland In June 2004, Organisational Development and Support (ODS), working in partnership with Stonewall Scotland, were commissioned to undertake research into the housing and support needs of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people, and to develop good practice guidance for the providers and users of housing and support services.

The main findings of the research were: The majority of people were content with their current housing circumstances.

Harassment in the home and neighbourhood was a problem for a significant minority of people, with a number having had to move home to avoid harassment.

Almost half of all participants felt they may experience barriers in the future in accessing quality services – particularly residential care – due to age, financial constraints, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Sexual orientation and gender identity were generally seen as less of a barrier to accessing services than age – linked to a lack of respect – and financial considerations.

Many did feel that sexual orientation or gender identity could be a barrier to quality service provision, due to the assumptions of service providers and a lack of awareness and training.

There was a clear preference for support and care to be provided at home for as long as possible. While those with finance available were confident that they could purchase home care services which would meet their needs, those relying on local authority or voluntary services were less confident, believing that lack of money meant that choice was restricted.

There was a clear feeling that most services for older LGBT people should be delivered through accessible mainstream services, rather than specialist provision.

The one exception to this was residential care and sheltered accommodation, with many people – particularly women – desiring either lesbian only or LGBT only accommodation with support.

The quality of service delivered was perceived to depend very much upon the staff and individuals delivering the service.

In service delivery people believed that sexual orientation and gender identity issues were often ignored in policies and in equalities training which led to a lack of consistency.

A number of people also highlighted that they did not know what services were available in their local area, and what to expect when they accessed these services.

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Introduction and methodology Little research has been undertaken into the housing and support needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland. This study – commissioned by Communities Scotland, Age Concern Scotland and the Equality Network – aimed to explore housing and support needs in detail, identify the services available to meet these needs, identify any real and perceived barriers to accessing these services, and assess the good practice and legislative frameworks within which service providers should operate.

To achieve these aims, this study involved: • A desktop review of relevant research and the legislative and policy context.

• Discussions with 64 older LGBT people in Scotland.

• Interviews with service providers.

• Two workshops with older LGBT people.

This research was accompanied by the development of a good practice 'checklist' for service providers and guidance for older LGBT people.

Findings The profile of participants The research involved discussions with 64 older LGBT people throughout Scotland. Of the 64 participants: 17 were aged 45 to 49; 30 aged 50 to 59; and 14 aged 60 and over. Three people under the age of 45 were included, due to contribution to a focus group discussion or requesting to be involved in the study. There was a reasonable gender balance; respondents came from a wide variety of locations across Scotland and the split between owner occupiers and renters reflected the Scottish pattern. In total, 30 gay men, 27 lesbians, six bisexual people, of whom two are also identified as transgender, and one additional transgender person, were involved in the research.

Respondents were not asked their incomes but they were asked the highest educational qualification that they had achieved. Of those who replied (34), 31 per cent had post graduate

qualifications or a degree. This compares to 20 per cent in Scotland (Scotland's Census 2001).

From this it can be concluded that the sample was likely to have a higher socio-economic standing than the population as a whole.

Current housing circumstances The majority of those consulted were content with their current housing circumstances.

However, a significant minority of people had experienced serious problems with harassment, both at home and in the surrounding neighbourhood. This was a particular problem for transgender people, but was also reported by gay and lesbian people. In some cases, this had resulted in people having to move home to avoid this harassment.

While the majority of people felt that their current housing met their needs effectively, most people did feel that as they grew older, mobility issues or financial circumstances may lead to them having to move elsewhere and location would be a key concern. This related partly to services (for example having a sympathetic GP was of great importance to a transgender person); being somewhere that allowed the continuation of existing networks – with LGBT networks being important for many; and living somewhere that was safe.

The majority of those interviewed had never accessed housing support services such as home care or support; assistance with adaptations; or supported accommodation, as they had not yet needed this type of service. Many pointed to their desire to maintain their independence for as long as possible. However, a number – particularly owner occupiers – had not accessed these services as they believed they would not be eligible for support.

Future needs Almost half of participants felt they may experience barriers in the future in accessing quality services – particularly residential care – due to age, financial constraints, gender identity or sexual orientation. People believed that assumptions and a lack of awareness of LGBT issues among service providers could lead to barriers in accessing the services they required.

However, most people felt that age and financial considerations were the key barriers to accessing

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reference to sexual orientation and gender identity within all equal opportunities statements and other policies.

The one area where considerable concerns about future housing and support services were raised by a number of people was in relation to residential care. Many exhibited high levels of concern regarding the care home environment, and the impact which this could have on independence, lifestyle and choice. Many believed that assumptions of heterosexuality, or even lack of sexuality, tend to be bound up within these services for older people. The proportion of those expressing concern was significantly higher amongst lesbian and transgender participants.

Main recommendations

Although generally people strongly believed that most services for older LGBT people should be delivered through accessible mainstream services, rather than specialist provision, residential care was the one exception to this.

Many people – particularly women – suggested that lesbian only or LGBT only accommodation with support should be available.

Improving the quality of service delivery With the exception of the comments regarding specialist supported accommodation, older LGBT people consulted through this study did not advocate the development of additional services to meet their needs. The focus was strongly on improvement of existing, mainstream services. The quality of existing services was perceived to depend very much upon the staff and individuals delivering the service. Many people believed that sexual orientation and gender identity issues were often ignored in policies and in equalities training which led to a lack of consistency in service delivery. The importance of equalities training specifically covering sexual orientation and gender identity issues for staff of all levels was stressed. People also wished to see specific

A number of people also highlighted that they did not know what services were available in their local area, and what to expect when they accessed these services. People felt that all older people should be informed of what their rights are in relation to tenancies, support services and the standards of service they are entitled to expect from service providers.

In research of this type in future, greater focus should be placed on identifying possible participants through organisations working with homeless people and others with significant housing and support requirements.

The Equality Network and Age Concern Scotland should continue to support and develop the Older LGBT People's Issues Forum.

Communities Scotland should ensure that the resources that it has to promote the building of capacity of individuals and of organisations takes account of this harder to reach community of interest.

Communities Scotland should publish the guidance for older LGBT people which has been produced as part of this research, and distribute it widely to community and voluntary organisations which work with either LGBT people or older people (or both).

Housing and support providers should selfcomplete the checklist which has been produced as part of the research, set appropriate performance measures and regularly measure their progress against these.

Housing and support providers should have clear policies in place to deal with harassment and, normally, this should lead to the harasser ceasing their behaviour or being required to move from the area – rather than the victim having to leave their home.

Housing and support providers should offer potential clients more information on the range of services that they can provide to allow older people to remain in their homes, through the provision of support and care in the home.

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suitable services. Ageing was linked to a lack of respect, and a number of people believed that this could combine with sexual orientation or gender identity to create further barriers to accessing services. Finance was also a key issue.

Those people with finance available were generally confident that they would be able to purchase home care services which would meet their needs. Those relying on local authority or voluntary services were less confident, believing that lack of money meant that choice was restricted.

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Organisations working with older people (like Age Concern Scotland) should work closely with residential care providers to help provide a bridge between independent living and residential accommodation, by encouraging people to consider in advance the possibility that they may require residential care and to plan how to get the best outcome from this.

About the study

Communities Scotland should work with a small group of older LGBT people interested in developing mutual support housing with a view to establishing the need and practical options for the provision of this housing model.

'Housing Options for Older LGBT People in Scotland', Homepoint, 2005.

Those organisations that currently provide befriending services for older people should specifically consider how they might better meet the needs of older LGBT people.

LGBT organisations should actively engage with older members of the LGBT community and consider whether they might develop befriending services for older LGBT people.

This study was commissioned by Communities Scotland, Age Concern Scotland and the Equality Network, and undertaken by ODS between June 2004 and April 2005.

Related research

'Ensuring Equality for Older LGBT People – housing and housing support providers’ checklist', Homepoint, 2005.

Further information For further information about this study please contact Laura Wilkie, 0131 313 0044 or by email: laura.wilkie@communitiesscotland.gsi.gov.uk.

June 2005