How to Incorporate Inclusivity into Care For LGBTQ+ Residents in Nursing Homes

In a new study, Jennifer L. Carnahan, MD, from the Indiana University School of Medicine, and her colleagues from the Regenstief Institute found that very few studies are available on the quality of life and care of LGBTQ+ residents living in nursing homes. Some of the factors that contribute to LGBTQ+ individuals’ admission into a nursing home are social isolation, lack of support in their community, dementia, decreased functional abilities, financial limitations, and delays in care. The researchers found a desire among residents to focus on what LGBTQ+ residents’ experiences and needs are to describe strategies facilities can follow for the best care for them.

Dr Carnahan described the different hardships LGBTQ+ residents face in comparison to their heterosexual peers. Nursing home faculty are responsible for residents’ everyday needs like going to the bathroom, bathing, eating, and receiving medical care. The care that residents need can leave them vulnerable if the facility’s culture is exclusion and not inclusion. Nursing home facilities must provide an inclusive culture for all the residents they care for, including their LGBTQ+ residents.

“We think about younger LGBTQ+ individuals and the challenges and risks of their lifestyles, but older adults in this population are often forgotten, they’ve experienced many health disparities. As these accumulate over a lifetime, we see the potential long-term ill effects of being from a marginalized population,” wrote Dr Carnahan.

Dr Carnahan and her colleagues recommended that facilities focus on 6 areas to improve their practices for LGBTQ+ residents and decrease their vulnerability in nursing homes. These focus areas are sexual orientation or gender identity status, medications, social isolation, inclusive culture, staff training, and advanced care planning/surrogate decision-making. These areas often need improvement because of failures in the design of the nursing home system or issues employing staff, which can compromise resident care. Researchers stress the importance of staff availability and providing quality care to all their residents, regardless of a staff member’s preconceived notions about a resident’s social status. Dr Carnahan recommended that nursing homes include Pride month celebrations in June for their LGBTQ+ residents and that staff is trained with relevant materials on the history and importance of Pride month to better understand their LGBTQ+ residents and provide a higher quality of care.

References

Caring for LGBTQ+ nursing home residents in culturally appropriate and inclusive ways. News release. EurekAlert! Published December 12, 2023. Accessed December 14, 2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1010822

Carnahan J, Pickett A. Postacute care and long-term care for LGBTQ+ older adults. Clin in Ger Med. Published Online November 1, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2023.10.005. Accessed December 14, 2023.