CREATING SPACE FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT END OF LIFE CARE

Navigating end of life care services can be daunting, however it is possible for LGBTQ+ communities to plan for a good death.

GIVING LGBTQ+ PEOPLE THE CARE THEY NEED

The Pride in Ageing programme at LGBT Foundation and St Ann’s Hospice recently collaborated on a scoping project around end of life care. Here are some of the things we learned about LGBTQ+ communities and planning around end of life.

What barriers to LGBTQ+ communities face to having a good death?

You may be worried about:

Discrimination because of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This hostility could come from staff or other individuals (e.g. residents in a care home). This could cause you to question whether or not you need to go back into the closet or hide your identity
Whether or not care staff have received any training on supporting LGBTQ+ people and how this can affect the quality of care you receive
Losing your independence and connection to LGBTQ+ spaces and friends within the community
Whether your partner will be overlooked or excluded in healthcare decisions
If your sexual orientation and gender identity will be accepted and embraced. This is of particular concern for LGBTQ+ people accessing hospices affiliated with churches or religious organisations
Whether you will be remembered as an LGBTQ+ person or if your identity will be hidden or erased by your family after death
Trans people may have concerns that they will be buried with the wrong name and gender

how can you take action?

You may be worried about:

Discrimination because of your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This hostility could come from staff or other individuals (e.g. residents in a care home). This could cause you to question whether or not you need to go back into the closet or hide your identity
Whether or not care staff have received any training on supporting LGBTQ+ people and how this can affect the quality of care you receive
Losing your independence and connection to LGBTQ spaces and friends within the community
Whether your partner will be overlooked or excluded in healthcare decisions
If your sexual orientation and gender identity will be accepted and embraced. This is of particular concern for LGBTQ+ people accessing hospices affiliated with churches or religious organisations
Whether you will be remembered as an LGBTQ+ person or if your identity will be hidden or erased by your family after death
Trans people may have concerns that they will be buried with the wrong name and gender

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE

Marie Curie have a really useful guide on the experiences of LGBT people within later life and end of life care.

MArie curie guide: lgbtq+ care

LGBTQ+ queer funeral guide from the good grief trust providing insight into LGBTQ+ inclusive funerals.

the good grief trust: queer funerals guide