Many gay, bisexual, and transgender Canberrans are at risk of isolation and discrimination in aged care facilities unless staff are appropriately trained, according to a peak body.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The concerns come as a national training program continues to work with staff not familiar with the LGBTI community in Canberra and improve their quality of care.
Samantha Edmonds, who manages the National LGBTI Health Alliance's aged care project, said many nursing homes in Canberra were beginning to realise they needed to provide more specialised care for the community.
"One of the biggest challenges is around full disclosure or what is commonly termed 'going back into the closet' with families perhaps not aware of their circumstances," she said.
"Historically, men and women have been required to marry and sometimes when they get into aged care they suddenly realise they can become who they've always wanted to be."
The training program, which is funded by the Department of Social Services until June next year, has struggled to meet demand in the ACT with many organisations waiting for admission.
AIDS Action Council executive director Philippa Moss said the program proved the federal government were committed to improving the situation, despite some funding uncertainty.
"We are really hoping to avoid people going back into the closet and to ensure aged care facilities are able to care for that five or ten percent of their clients who are not from a heterosexual orientation," she said.
"A lot of people in aged care services today have experienced hardship as they lived through a period of time where they were openly discriminated against."
Ms Moss said the program provided aged care staff with a historical context of what their clients may have experienced along with some tips to make them feel welcome and comfortable.
According to Ms Edmonds, many older aged care staff may not be aware they are offending or discriminating against LGBTI clients due to a lack of awareness.
"It can be things as simple as language. A staff member might come up and say 'how is your husband or wife' trying to be nice, but not realising the nature of their circumstances," she said.
"We are starting to make headway and there are some aged care providers picking this up and running with it but there are others who are still quite behind."
