When Geoffrey Ostling first considered going into aged care, Australians were voting on marriage equality.The Royal Commission into Aged Care did not make any specific recommendations for the LGBTQIA+ community
Then he took a tour of Elizabeth Lodge, which was "brimming with activity and people doing art classes and all sorts of things". The Royal Commission into Aged Care heard evidence from members of the community and providers specialising in their care during its hearings, but the community did not feature in any of the final recommendations.
"There's always a risk that when you disclose that you'll be treated with disrespect or outright abuse," she said. While Geoffrey has had a positive experience in aged care, many others from the community are frightened to go into residential care. "It felt as if I got out of jail, I was not constrained by trying to fit in to what was expected of me," she said.Toni Paynter often visits a cafe near her house, with a visitor from Switchboard's Out and About program.
"I haven't had my body modified to the extent that it would take a surgeon to realise I wasn't a female, I don't have that privilege, so every time, a care worker had to deal with me and my body was exposed, it would be obvious that I was trans and I would be constantly having to come out to people."Ms Paynter is regularly visited by a volunteer from the LGBTQIA+ support group Switchboard, which runs a visitor program for aging members of the community.
See Rainbow Tick A world first quality framework to help organisations become safe and inclusive for the LGBTIQ community.
See 'Silver Rainbow LGBTI Aged Care Awareness Training Project managed by LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and delivered collaboratively with project partners across every state and territory in Australia. It is funded by the Department of Health until June 2020.
I am filled with dread at the prospect of going into aged care for this very reason. I'm 52. Hopefully things will be better by the time I need it.
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