A person's sexual orientation or gender identity is an important part of their identity and influences not only their sexual behaviour or self-image, but also other areas of their life.
It is therefore important that care takes these aspects into account and addresses the special needs of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people.
Experienced or feared discrimination can lead to LGBTI people withdrawing from institutions, not seeking medical or care services in the first place - which can have serious consequences if medical treatment is necessary or can lead to social or care deficits.
There may be physical and psychosocial consequences, e.g. from involuntary reassignment surgery performed on intersex people. These also require special knowledge and sensitivity in care and support.
Sexual orientation or gender identity are not (sufficiently) taken into account
Queer-sensitive offers in care and support are hard to find
Experienced or feared discrimination leads to care deficits
For reasons of anonymity, we have dubbed this experience report.
Did you know that 97% of residential care facilities cannot provide quality standards in dealing with same-sex living environments? This fact is worrying and emphasises the need for change. Unfortunately, many LGBTIQ people hide their sexuality and identity for fear of discrimination and marginalisation, while inter* people are often afraid of discrimination because of their physicality. It is our responsibility to create an environment where all people are safe and accepted, regardless of their sexuality or identity.
A positive example of this is the "Lebensort Vielfalt" in Berlin.
A person's sexual orientation or gender identity is an important part of their identity and influences not only their sexual behaviour or self-image, but also other areas of their life. It is therefore important that care takes these aspects into account and addresses the special needs of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people.
Experienced or feared discrimination can lead to LGBTIQ+ people withdrawing from institutions, not seeking medical or care services in the first place - which can have serious consequences if medical treatment is necessary or can lead to social or care deficits.
There may be physical and psychosocial consequences, e.g. from involuntary reassignment surgery performed on intersex people. These also require special knowledge and sensitivity in care and support.
Why do we need special queer-sensitive services in care and elderly care for queer senior citizens?
This is the generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer people who have grown up with rejection, marginalisation and experiences of violence. Although queer senior citizens are increasingly self-confident in standing up for their rights, they are often afraid of renewed discrimination in old age and in need of care and hide their identity in elderly care facilities for fear of rejection.
This group of LGBTI seniors has faced rejection, marginalisation and violence in the past, but has increasingly fought for their rights in recent decades. Important milestones on this path were the suspension of criminal prosecution for same-sex sex between men under Section 175 in 1969, its abolition in 1994 (women who love women were also discriminated against by this section - even if their lifestyle was not explicitly criminalised), the introduction of marriage for all in 2017, a gay mayor of Berlin and a lesbian environment minister.
There have also been partial successes in the recognition of trans* and inter* identities. However, those affected continue to fight for legal reforms, social participation and recognition of their identities.
LGBTIQ* senior citizens are confronted with the question of how they can lead a self-determined life in old age, especially if they are dependent on help from others. A look at care facilities for the elderly shows that they are not always prepared for LGBTIQ people as a target group. For example, there may be physical and psychosocial consequences of involuntary reassignment surgery for intersex people. These also require special knowledge and sensitivity in care and support.
Due to the fact that many LGBTIQ* people have no children or receive less support from their family of origin, they are often dependent on professional elderly care services as they get older. However, studies have shown that many LGBTIQ* people are sceptical about the traditional services offered by elderly care services.
The reasons for this can be formative life experiences of exclusion and rejection, which often lead to a great mistrust of institutions that do not show explicit support and acceptance of offers from the community!
At Queer Care, we understand the unique challenges that LGBTIQ+ people face in the care landscape. Our main goal is to provide a comprehensive and accessible resource that not only informs, but also empowers and supports the community.
We strive to build a bridge between queer people in need of care and providers who are not only professional and experienced, but who can also guarantee queer-sensitive care. This includes providing up-to-date, practical information about care services, support services and educational materials that are specifically tailored to the needs of LGBTIQ* people.
Furthermore, our aim is to promote a network of professionals and organisations that are committed to the integration of diversity and inclusion. We not only want to educate and advise, but also actively contribute to making the world of care more inclusive and fairer.
Ultimately, our focus is to improve the quality of life for queer individuals by ensuring that their care needs are treated with dignity, respect and understanding. We are committed to ensuring that every individual in the community receives the support and resources needed to lead a fulfilling and healthy life.
Active participation in social life is particularly important for older people, as they are often affected by social isolation and loneliness. This risk is much greater for LGBTI* people in this generation, as they often have no children or experience less support from their family of origin.
Fear of discrimination and feelings of shame can lead to "care" not being utilised. It is easy to find specialised care services that are designed to respect the individual needs and wishes of the LGBTI* community in the context of their identity. This helps to improve quality of life and ensure quality care.
