Culturally Competent, Welcoming Practices

Don’t assume that all care recipients are completely heterosexual, even those with children. Understand that it could take some time for a care recipient to gain enough trust to divulge this information.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) falls within societal minority groups such as low income, people of color, and disables (AHRQ, 2011). Due to their gender identity, discrimination, violence, and even denial of human rights and healthcare services is a common challenge among LGBT population. LGBT still faces many health disparities primarily related to the historic bias of healthcare professionals anti-LGBT manners even though society acceptance has been favorable. According to Ard and Makadon (n.d), “until 1973, homosexuality was listed as a disorder…, and transgender still is.” This stigma prevents healthcare professionals to openly ask questions in a non-judgmental manner related to sexual identity. On the other hand, if the patient senses that the healthcare environment is discriminating they may be reluctant to disclose important information as their sexual orientation; thus, missing important opportunities of been educated about safety and health care risks.

This decision has affected people’s behavior as individuals and public institutions such as family, young, elderly, disabled, LGTB and those with pre-existing conditions. For example, Kates & Ranji (2014) report that health care access and coverage for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGTB) community in the U.S. face opportunities and challenges when getting access to care. The authors report that LGBT individuals experience some discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, due to ongoing discrimination, access to health care have been limited to these people (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014). LGBT individuals not only face discrimination when trying to receive care, but also face difficulties that limit them such as “barriers in obtaining insurance coverage, gaps in coverage, cost-related hurdles, and poor treatment by health care providers” (Kates & Ranji, 2014).

1. I learnt that cultural responsiveness is a way reacting through cultural knowledge, recognizing the cultural heritage of different ethnic groups. It is an approach that is being used to empower and emancipate the Aboriginals.

Assessing the needs of the LGBT elderly population is essential, they are independent and it is hard for them to seek assistance. Furthermore utilizing various assessment tools within the geriatric LGBT population can provide insightful information regarding the type of care needed. The assessment measurement tools that can be used include the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale, and the Alcohol Use Screening and Assessment for Older Adults. In addition information will be provided regarding organizations such as SAGE (Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders) and the Griot Circle. These organizations can assist the patient with housing, social adult day programs, social services, health and wellness programs and many other services. Overall, we should treat people, the way that we like to be treated. Treat people with respect, courtesy and be culturally

Sexual and social stigmas largely affect the health of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. While many reports from the Institute of Medicine, Healthy People 2020 and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recognize a need to improve the quality of health care, barriers still remain. LGBT patients face legal discrimination, especially with insurance, a lack of social programs, and limited access to providers competent in LGBT health care. Although the Affordable Care Act increased access to care for LGBT patients, unless these patients feel understood by providers and develop trust in the system, they are not likely to utilize care. Healthcare providers need to recognize how these vulnerabilities, as well as persistent racism and stigma linked to sexual orientation and gender identity, make the healthcare needs of LGBT patients more challenging than the general population. Healthcare providers also need to promote cultural competence within this population and broaden their clinical lens to include health promotion, in addition to addressing concerns mentioned above within the population. Additionally, medical and nursing schools need to ensure that future providers are adequately educated by including information about this population in the curriculum.

The health needs of LBGT can be divided into two broad categories, acute and chronic cares, and issues facing elder LGBT.

A number of studies have been conducted on the services needed by social workers and related human services employees whom work for agencies as the child welfare system to incorporate in their practice. This chapter will present past studies conducted on findings proclaim attitudes and approaches between social workers and other human services workers towards LGBTQIA+ community are influences by the workers on biases. In addition, areas where lack of support is provided to LGBTQIA+ youth, as out-of-home foster care within agency, as the child welfare department will be presented.

Today, falling birthrates and advances in medicine have made adults 65 years and older one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. According to Grant, J. M., Koskovich, G., Frazer, M. S., & Bjerk, S. (2010), “nearly 37.9 million Americans are 65 or older, representing 12.6% of the population, or one in eight Americans” (p. 19). Furthermore, the aging population is faced with struggles that include limited mobility, physical, and mental health problems. As such, the need for long-term care, like home nursing, assisted living, and hospital stays, is rising. The growth in the aging population also means that it has grown in its diversity. Grant, J. M., Koskovich, G., Frazer, M. S., & Bjerk, S. (2010) estimate that “between now and the height of the aging boom, there will be approximately nearly 2 million to as many as 7 million LGBT elders in the United States” (p. 28). Across one’s lifespan, several socioeconomic factors impact one’s ability to access resources later in life. The LGBT population in the United States is distinct in the fact that it faces discrimination as a sexual minority, as well as discrimination as a result of ageism. As a result, the LGBT population may have social service needs that differ from that of the heterosexual population. In fact, studies are beginning to suggest that older LGBT people may face a unique set of needs

Qualitative research generates information that is very detailed and or originality. It is done in a normal social setting and gets to a better understanding of participants. The method used to collect data is by observation from interviews. Qualitative research is usually criticized for lacking scientific demands.

This paper looks at the descriptions of six terms based on the context of their use within the class Principles of Research. Consequently, the terms examined are: (1) Phenomenology; (2) grounded theory; (3) case study; (4) ethnography;(5) narrative analysis; and (6) critical research. Accordingly, the following six sections explore each term or word and offers a brief description of each.

Elderly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LBGT) individuals face many issues that others do not. Not only do they face discrimination due to their sexuality, but also due to their age and/or gender. The intersectionality of sexuality, age, and/or gender can cause many physical, mental, and emotional health issues which require social work intervention. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the struggles and needs elderly LGBT individuals face and its effect on their aging process. This can be achieved by applying theoretical frameworks such as Erickson’s Stages of Development, Intersectionality, and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the issue being presented.

According to Kothari (2008) qualitative research is concerned with qualitative phenomena which are related to or involve quality or kind. Qualitative research engages the collection and analysis of non-numerical data obtained from experiments, interviews, observations, and other resources involving statements and arguments. Research is conducted into particular context and non-numerical interpretive approach is used to produce narrative description of research data. Unlike quantitative research, this type of research considers the underlying facts behind the establishment of particular behaviors and assumptions. It is commonly used in behavioural sciences where the aim of research is to discover underlying motives of human behaviour.

Qualitative or interpretive research involves data that uses words, diagrams, stories, or illustrations (Grinnell, Williams, & Unrau, pg 177, 2016). Qualitative research explores and tries to understand individuals, groups, or social problems. This process has a flexible structure, and a focus on the importance and complexity of a situation (Grinnell, Williams, & Unrau, pg 179, 2016). Qualitative research has many commonalities. Generally studies are conducted in a natural setting, the data collected are influenced by experiences of participants, and the data is not reduced to numbers (Grinnell, Williams, & Unrau, pg 182, 2016). With qualitative research participants can also voice opinions and provide benefits and harm of the study (Pathak, Jena, & Kalra, 2013).

Qualitative research methods are utilized to study the social and cultural phenomena. So it includes observation, participant observation (field work), interview sessions, documents and texts and finally the researcher’s imitations and feedback. [Myers, 2009]