Aging lesbians can feel unwelcome in care homes, says professor

A University of New Brunswick nursing professor is conducting a survey of lesbians 55 or older in the Maritimes on their thoughts about housing and long-term care facilities.

What you're telling people is we don't want you.- Professor Tracey Rickards

Professor Tracey Rickards hopes to use the information to encourage facilities and providers to be more inclusive of people who are LGBT.

"They're really concerned about how they're going to be treated in long-term care facilities," said Rickards.

"Any advertising that they've seen for nursing homes or for independent living facilities hasn't got anybody in their advertising who is identified as LGBT. So, you know, when you do that you, really, what you're telling people is we don't want you."

Rickards said convincing people it's safe to share their concerns and experiences with her can be difficult. A survey she did last summer with gay men in the region with prostate cancer only resulted in four participants.

Given the low response rate in her suvey last summer, Rickards said, she hasn't been able to advance the research into gay men and prostate cancer. She said her findings are similar to others who have found there need to be support groups and services specifically for gay men with prostate cancer.

Rickards said in the early days the response rate for the housing for older lesbians survey has been better.

Rickards can be reached at 1-506-447-3412 or at srickar1@unb.ca.