Anyone can develop dementia, but for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people the experience of dementia support contrasts with that of their non-LGBT peers.
Today a strategic partnership of voluntary organisations launches ‘Foundations for the Future: dementia care for LGBT communities’.
This is the third report in a series exploring how care professionals can provide the most appropriate support. The report describes the growing need for appropriate care for LGBT people with dementia. Along with the learning that can be applied from existing high-quality dementia care for LGBT. It also promotes the next steps towards creating stronger dementia care strategies.
Launching the report on behalf of the National Care Forum and Voluntary Organisations Disability Group, SPP Manager Gill Boston says: “The best social care takes people’s needs and meets these holistically. This must include a recognition of people’s sexuality or gender where it is appropriate to do so.
"With rising demand for dementia care, this report provides a call to action for all services to ensure that people are able to access the right person-centred support. Alongside this we need the workforce to be trained and developed by people from LGBT communities themselves.”
Bob Green OBE, CEO Stonewall Housing adds: “The National LGB&T Partnership are delighted to support the production of this resource which sums up the collaboration we have been involved in with NCF and VODG over the past three years to raise awareness of the issues of LGB&T people with dementia.”
He continues: “Since going to print we have learned that GADD who are mentioned as a good practice example will be closing in April 2017. This reinforces the importance of service providers and commissioners to engage with LGB&T people and their support groups to provide specific services to ensure LGB&T people with dementia receive the best care and support.”
The new report has been produced as part of the strategic partnership involving the NCF, VODG and the National LGB&T Partnership. It complements existing publications issued since 2014, including The Dementia challenge for LGBT communities and Dementia care and LGBT communities.
