LGBT: Care villages out, loud and proud

In many care homes, people who have been ‘out’ all their lives suddenly feel they have to hide their sexuality and keep it a secret.

Belong care villages, however, are part of a small minority of residential care settings, leading the way when it comes to celebrating diversity and being truly inclusive.

They are tackling prejudice head on by hosting LGBT reminiscence events, attending Pride marches and even holding their own Silver Pride.

There are around a million LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people in Britain over the age of 55 and research has shown many people living in care homes return ‘to the closet’ after being ‘out’ most of their lives due to fear of prejudice and discrimination.

Older transgender people can also face considerable stigma and they will have extra needs in terms of their personal care, such as the need to shave, catheterise or find appropriate gender clothing in the right size.

Dr Paul Willis from the Centre for Health and Social Care at Bristol University is currently working with the Diversity Trust on a new learning resource for care homes showing how they can be more inclusive.

'High levels of anxiety' over coming out in a care home

He says: “We know that older LGBT+ people in the UK can experience high levels of anxiety about coming out to health and social care professionals and workers, such as care home staff and managers.

“This may be because they have experienced discrimination and homophobia/biphobia/ transphobia earlier in their lifetime or because they have lived through a historical period when sex between men was criminalised and LGBT people were subject to medical and moral condemnation.”

For residents at Belong’s seven care villages, it is a different story as staff there have been doing their utmost to break down barriers and eradicate discrimination.

Silver Pride

In June this year, Belong Crewe held its first ever Silver Pride event celebrating LGBT culture for older people, with musical performances, fancy dress competitions and open mic acts. Among those performing was popular North West singer-songwriter, Claire Mooney, best known for her songs championing women’s rights and equality.

In addition to live entertainment, there were areas for people to reminisce about life in Crewe through the years, prompted by displays of artefacts charting the campaign for LGBT rights and the history of the movement in Crewe. People could also learn about the physical and emotional support available in the area for members of the LGBT community. The Crewe police and fire services also attended, with the police arriving in their ‘Pride car’, in suitable rainbow livery.

Belong Crewe’s experience coordinator, Natalie Ravenscroft, a driving force behind the event, said: “The event was about fun and entertainment as well as showcasing the care options open to older members of the LGBT community and creating a 'safe space' where people would feel comfortable expressing who they are.

“As a result, we’re already thinking about next year’s Silver Pride event at Belong Crewe, and there are also plans to organise similar events at other Belong villages.”

In August, a cohort of staff and residents from across Belong’s villages in the North West and Staffordshire will attend Manchester Pride.

Meeting Ian McKellen

Last year, Belong Wigan resident, Jane Chadbond, attended Wigan’s first ever LGBT Pride parade along with staff members from Belong Wigan and even got to meet actor Ian McKellen, famous for his iconic roles in X Men, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

She said: “I had a great time at Wigan Pride and particularly enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk to Ian McKellen. Working with the LGBT community has been a very big and important part of my life and it was lovely to share this with the village staff members who pulled out all of the stops to organise our participation in the march.

“The parade certainly brought back many fond memories of my days working as an LGBT youth worker and attending Pride in years gone by.”

Staff members had recently become ‘Older & Out Champions,’ by taking part in an Age Concern LGBT awareness session, in which they learned ways to emotionally and physically support older people who identify as LGBT.

'Inclusivity and diversity is very important to us'

Marie Calderbank, experience coordinator at Belong Wigan, called it an “honour to be involved” and said: “Inclusivity and diversity is very important to us at Belong and this was a perfect opportunity to celebrate our values with the Wigan LGBT community. We look forward to being involved with Pride in the years to come!”

Over a year ago, care workers started running reminiscence sessions about the history of the LGBT movement at Belong care villages.

The event at Belong Crewe, which was facilited by Cheshire East Council and the Silver Rainbows older people’s LGBT Network, used memory boxes containing vintage artefacts including ration books, photographs, clothing and household items.

The session prompted memories from residents and also raised awareness for the older LGBT community in Cheshire by encouraging people to share their personal experiences.

Tracy Paine, deputy chief executive of Belong Ltd describes Belong as a values-based organisation and says: “We are committed to equality and encouraging diversity in our villages. Also, fundamental to our approach to care is developing an understanding of an individual’s needs and requirements and doing whatever is necessary to make them feel at home.

“It’s for these reasons that Belong is leading the drive for better care and respect for older LGBT people. It’s why we have taken advantage of resources, such as the Older and Out training offered by Age Concern Central Lancashire, to raise awareness amongst staff of the issues that older members of the LGBT community may face. By understanding these issues, we are better able to ensure that our customers who identify as LGBT feel comfortable expressing who they are.”

“It’s also why we are supporting residents to attend LGBT events, including Wigan and Manchester Pride events, and showing our support as an organisation. And it’s why were behind the initiative to host Crewe’s first Silver Pride event at Belong Crewe and are looking to host similar events at other villages.”

Things are changing and a number of care homes in the UK have held LGBT awareness training and events to celebrate diversity. Care provider Anchor runs an LGBT advisory group, with the group aiming to share best practice across all Anchor care facilities and both London and Manchester look set to get their first LGBT+ care villages over the next decade.

There is still a long way to go but with Belong at the forefront of this drive to be truly inclusive, it hopefully won't be long before others follow in its footsteps and show there can be golden years at the end of the rainbow.

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