Hafford-Letchfield, Trish, Toze, Michael and Westwood, Sue orcid.org/0000-0003-3875-9584 (2022) Unheard voices:A qualitative study of LGBT+ older people experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Health and Social Care in the Community. pp. 1233-1243. ISSN 1365-2524
Abstract
This paper reports findings from a qualitative study into the immediate impact of social distancing measures on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) older people (≥60 years) living in the UK during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on in-depth interviews with 17 older people and 6 key informants from LGBT+ community-based organisations, exploring the strategies used to manage their situations, how they responded and adapted to key challenges. Five themes emerged related to: 1) risk factors for LGBT+ older people and organisations, including specific findings on trans experiences; (2) care practices in LGBT+ lives; (3)strengths and benefits of networking (4) politicisation of ageing issues and their relevance to LGBT+ communities and (5) learning from communication and provision in a virtual world. The findings illuminate adaptability and many strengths in relation to affective equality and reciprocal love, care and support among LGBT+ older people. It is vital UK that the government recognises and addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT+ older people during emergencies. experiences,;2) care practices in LGBT+ lives,;3) strengths and benefits of networking 4) politicisation of ageing issues and their relevance to LGBT+ communities; and 5) learning from communication and provision in a virtual world. The findings illuminate adaptability and many strengths in relation to affective equality and reciprocal love, care and support among LGBT+ older people. It is vital UK that the government recognises and addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT+ older people during emergencies. What is known: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the wider governmental and societal response, brought health inequalities into sharp focus, exposing the structural disadvantage and discrimination faced by many marginalised communities in the UK and globally. LGBT+ older people are known to experience health inequalities compounded by anticipated or poor experiences of accessing health and social care services. What this paper adds: An exploration of LGBT+ older peple, their communities and social networks and how these were adapted in the COVID-19 context. Trans older people have been affected in very specific ways. The findings illuminate adaptability and many strengths in relation to affective equality and reciprocal love, care and support among LGBT+ older people. It is vital UK that the government recognises and addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT+ older people during emergencies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 The Authors. Health and Social Care. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > The York Law School |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 10 Aug 2021 09:40 |
Last Modified: | 05 Mar 2025 17:00 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13531 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/hsc.13531 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:176878 |