Nurses’ views on the care of gay and lesbian care home residents

MacGabhann, Patricia

Patricia MacGabhann is clinical and operational director at Nightingale Nursing Home in Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland.

Citation MacGabhann P (2106) Nurses’ views on the care of gay and lesbian nursing home residents. Nursing Times; 113: 3, 49–52.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Key points

1 Expressing one's sexuality is a lifelong need; people do not cease to be sexual beings when they grow old

2 Historically, in Ireland, homosexuality was considered a deviance, a psychiatric illness and/or a criminal activity; it was only decriminalised in 1993

3 The assumption of residents’ heterosexuality can have a negative impact on care

4 Nursing and care home residents’ sexuality is often negated, particularly if they are gay or lesbian

5 By recognising diversity and cultivating open-mindedness, nurses can provide truly holistic and respectful care to all

Nursing Times 113(3):p 49-52, March 2017.

Abstract

In Ireland, the sexuality of older people living in nursing homes is often overlooked, particularly that of gay or lesbian residents. Research in this area is scant, and there has also been very little research on the attitudes of nurses towards caring for nursing home residents of sexual minority status. This article reports on a study exploring the views of 143 nurses working in nursing homes in Ireland about caring for older gay and lesbian people. It looks at heteronormativity, barriers to holistic care, the needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and the role of nurses in ensuring unbiased care for all.

In this article…

• How sexuality is often brushed aside in nursing and care homes

• Barriers to the holistic care of residents of minority sexual status

• Concerns specific to older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ireland