Malcolm Angus presents a radio programme on local community station Oar FM that explores challenges faced by ageing members of the rainbow community.
‘‘They are going into aged-care, but they are fearful of it, they are fearful of how to choose the right facility.’’
After moving to Dunedin about four years ago he made informal inquiries about the level of understanding at local retirement village and aged-care facilities.
‘‘I went to one particular facility and just introduced myself.’’
He spoke to the manager and asked ‘‘what do you do to look after people from the rainbow community, and he said ‘well, I’ve never thought about it’.’’
The manager said he would discuss it at a staff meeting.
‘‘But the business itself had no idea,’’ Mr Angus said.
‘‘Age care is heteronormative, hugely heteronormative, and if you ask to see the documents that you have to sign to get into age care, you will find that sort of leaning is there.’’
‘‘At what point do you explain that you have lived in a same sex relationship?’’
He found it was hard to find an aged-care facility that said it had ever had or now had rainbow aged-care residents.
‘‘They just don’t exist.’’
People were ‘‘going back into the closet’’ and not revealing their sexuality to staff or other residents, Mr Angus said.
As a member of the rainbow community ‘‘you never stop coming out’’.
‘‘Every time you meet a new person you want to befriend, eventually you ‘come out’, so it is a never-ending story.’’
Before moving to Dunedin he worked for many years in Australia at aged-care facilities.
He was the chief executive of a facility that looked after about 2000 home-based clients in New South Wales.
‘‘This was very much an eye-opener for me as to the discrimination going on in aged care generally in Australia, with so many faith-based organisations.’’
Research conducted by the University of Melbourne showed some in the ageing rainbow community would hide evidence of their sexuality, putting away photos or memorabilia which might suggest their history.
‘‘All the photos would come down, anything that would give their ‘secret’ away.’’
For the first time in their lives, their home was no longer their sanctuary, where they would know anyone who visited beforehand, Mr Angus said.
Instead they would have no idea of the background of aged-care workers when they arrived, and whether they would come with pre-conceived notions of alternative sexualities, he said.
DUNEDIN RETIREMENT VILLAGE / AGED-CARE RAINBOW AWARENESS
The Star asked local aged-care facilities how many past or current residents identified as part of the rainbow community and if they were aware of people going ‘‘back in the closet’' and hiding their sexuality. We also asked them if they had specific awareness and education programmes on the experiences and needs of the ageing rainbow community.
Summerset at Bishopscourt
Summerset general manager operations Eleanor Young said it did not collect information on independent living residents’ sexuality, religion or spiritual practice and it was up to residents whether they shared these aspects of their life with staff and neighbours.
‘‘We do ask more personal information for care centre residents, so we can provide the right care and support for them.’’
This would include gender identity, ‘‘so we can ensure we are supporting them with suchthings as the right clothes and grooming’’.
It had a sexuality and intimacy policy and conducted staff training based on the policy.
Abbeyfield Dunedin
Abbeyfield Dunedin chairman Alan Somerville said he was not aware that any of the issues raised in our questions had arisen at the house.
He was not aware of any specific training regarding awareness and education on the experiences and needs of ageing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
‘‘Housekeepers from Abbeyfield houses around New Zealand get together every year and have the chance to raise any issues or matters that have come up at their houses,’’ he said.
Chatsford
Chatsford chief executive Malcolm Hendry said he was aware of one resident who had ended a gay relationship a short time before moving into their Chatsford home.
‘‘They integrated fully into village life, became a member of our resident committee, and remained in the village for more than adecade before poor health resulted in a move to residential care.
‘‘I know of another recently arrived resident who also openly discusses with other residents that they are gay.’’
Residents were not asked whether they identify as part of the rainbow community, so if someone had ‘‘gone back into the closet’’, it would not necessarily know.
‘‘I believe we are an inclusive community.
‘‘But in any group of 300+ individuals you will always get a range of views and degrees of acceptance, ’’ he said.
Staff were reminded the employment situation was somewhat unique.
‘‘Our ‘workplace’ is our customers’ home.
‘‘We therefore need tobe considerate and respectful at all times and with every interaction between staff and residents, between staff and visitors, and between staff and colleagues.’’
The home had not provided any specific LGBTQI+ training programmes.
‘‘But it is certainly something we would consider.’’
Training programmes for healthcare assistants who worked in the Birchleigh residential care centre did include modules on cultural diversity, which involve education on awareness of the needs of residents with a range of sexual orientations, he said.
Ryman Healthcare [Yvette Williams and Frances Hodgkins]
Ryman Healthcare corporate affairs manager David King said the company recognised the importance of providing an LGBTQI inclusive service and creating a culture that was free from discrimination and promoted inclusivity.
‘‘We believe an LGBTQ- inclusive service and universal approach is important to ensure individual rights.’’
The company had an intimacy, sexual safety and wellness policy that was based on current New Zealand sexuality in residential care research and also had a foundation document on diversity and inclusion.
