Working With LGBT Baby Boomers and Older Adults: Factors That Signal a Welcoming Service Environment

Abstract

Many providers recognize the importance of creating culturally competent services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Although multiple resources list steps to make professional practices more LGBT-welcoming, these resources provide no empirical data to support their recommendations. LGBT older adults (N = 327) were asked to describe what signals that a provider is LGBT-welcoming. Six of the top 10 signals related to provider behavior and suggest the importance of staff training; the balance included display of signage and rainbow flags, use of inclusive language on forms and the presence of LGBT-identified staff. Results provide evidence-based recommendations for working with LGBT older adults.

KEYWORDS:

• aging
• baby boomer
• cultural competency
• evidence-based practice
• LGBT

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by Greater Twin Cities United Way; and PFund Foundation.