Housing Needs of Older Lesbians
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Background & PurposeThe housing needs of older lesbians have not had very much attention, especially in Canada. Many long-term care facilities and their employees tend to be heterosexist in nature and do not feel equipped to care for members of LGBT communities. This frequently causes many older lesbians to go back into the closet, denying their sexual identity in the final years. This research will seek to determine what older lesbians are concerned about in the senior years and what they are looking for in seniors’ housing. The findings of this research will help to better inform healthcare providers as to how to address the housing needs and concerns around housing for lesbians as they get move into their senior years.
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Research Questions & Objectives
This study seeks to answer questions such as:
There are 5 main objectives for this research study:
As this is an exploratory investigation into the needs, concerns, and thoughts about aging and formal and informal long-term care in the retirement years for lesbians, a thematic analysis methodology will allow for themes to emerge that will guide and inform future research.
- Are there differences or similarities in the needs of lesbians in terms of support during senior years?
- Is fear of discrimination in the health care system still a reality for lesbians in Atlantic Canada?
- What are their concerns about quality of life, quality of care, and formal and informal long-term care?
There are 5 main objectives for this research study:
- To understand the present situation for the lesbian community about both formal and informal long-term care
- To develop a better idea about the contextual situation for lesbians living in Canada
- To begin to address the lack of research documenting the reality of Canadian lesbians as they age and begin to consider their housing needs later in life
- To uncover the psychological, physical, and social health consequences of worrying about where to live when no longer able to live on their own and of experiencing or expecting to experience heterosexism and stigma as a member of a marginalized population
- To develop direction for future research
As this is an exploratory investigation into the needs, concerns, and thoughts about aging and formal and informal long-term care in the retirement years for lesbians, a thematic analysis methodology will allow for themes to emerge that will guide and inform future research.
ParticipantsParticipants in this study will be English-speaking lesbians from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island who are 55 years of age or older. Dr. Rickards will conduct a 1-2 hour recorded interview with participants to discuss their thoughts and concerns about ageing. She may also need to conduct a second, shorter interview with participants (30-60 minutes) to explore ideas and themes that were not explored during the first interview. As a thank you for taking part in this research, participants will receive a $25 gift card to a local grocery store.
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For more information
Please contact Dr. Rickards using the contact page of this website.