Those who work in the aging services sector see the multiplicity of people’s lives and know it is unwise to think everyone is generally alike. This fallacy, however, pervades our social construction of sexuality and gender, and has been the dominant discourse for many years. Appreciating the reality of gay, lesbian and bisexual elders is emerging, so its inclusion in research and care provider training remains a somewhat novel area. Including transgender elders in conversations about providing long-term care and services often remains an afterthought.
By Lake Dziengel
Those who work in the aging services sector see the multiplicity of people’s lives and know it is unwise to think everyone is generally alike. This fallacy, however, pervades our social construction of sexuality and gender, and has been the dominant discourse for many years. Appreciating the reality of gay, lesbian and bisexual elders is emerging, so its inclusion in research and care provider training remains a somewhat novel area. Including transgender elders in conversations about providing long-term care and services often remains an afterthought.