Creative ageing

A series of reports taking a critical look at ageing, and applying gerontological thinking to current debates in services for people over the age of 65

Experiences of LGBT people aged 60+ in general practice - Project Summary Report

This is a summary project report for a study undertaken at the University of Lincoln, looking at the experiences of LGBT people aged 60+ within general practic

Invisible futures: trans men and representations of ageing

Trans studies has often emphasised the importance of trans people reclaiming their own narrative.(1) Lifecourse approaches to ageing studies similarly seek to recognise the ongoing and cumulative effects of interactions between sociocultural context, lifestage, interactions with others and agency.(2) It has elsewhere been suggested that integrating these perspectives offers opportunities to conceptualise trans ageing.(3) Concepts of narrative and of lifecourse are rooted in time, and the movement between past, present and future. However, there is currently little popular or academic visibility of mature trans men beyond transition. As a consequence, both trans men and society as a whole may have relatively little opportunity to ‘see’ trans men’s experiences as a complete lifecourse. This paper explores the implications of this absence of visibility for community and sense of identity, highlights potential areas of intersections between masculinity, trans status and ageing and points to the importance of nuanced recognition of diverse trans lifecourses. (1) Sandy Stone, 'The Empire Strikes Back: A Posttranssexual Manifesto', in Body Guards: The Cultural Politics of Gender Ambiguity, ed. by Julia Epstein and Kristina Straub (New York: Routledge, 1991). (2) Glen H Elder, 'Time, Human Agency, and Social Change: Perspectives on the Life Course', Social Psychology Quarterly, (1994). (3) Michael Toze, 'Developing a Critical Trans Gerontology', The British Journal of Sociology, 70.4 (2019) 1490-1509

Unheard voices: A qualitative study of LGBT+ older people experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

This paper reports findings from a qualitative study into the immediate impact of social distancing measures on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) older people (≥60 years) living in the UK during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on in-depth interviews with 17 older people and 6 key informants from LGBT+ community-based organisations, exploring the strategies used to manage their situations, how they responded and adapted to key challenges. Five themes emerged related to: (1) risk factors for LGBT+ older people and organisations, including specific findings on trans experiences; (2) care practices in LGBT+ lives; (3) strengths and benefits of networking (4) politicisation of ageing issues and their relevance to LGBT+ communities and (5) learning from communication and provision in a virtual world. The findings illuminate adaptability and many strengths in relation to affective equality and reciprocal love, care and support among LGBT+ older people. It is vital UK that the government recognises and addresses the needs and concerns of LGBT+ older people during emergencies

The Impact of COVID-19 on Older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Trans+ (LGBT+) People in the UK : A Rapid Response Scoping Study

This summary report provides an overview of the survey findings from a mixed methods research project, which explores the impact of COVID-19 emergency regulations on older LGBT+ people in the United Kingdom (UK) during June-August 2020. It was a rapid response project or ‘temperature check’ of 375 older LGBT+ people in the UK, in relation to COVID19. We have identified that older LGBT+ people live diverse lives, informed by their intersection with a wide range of social locations, cutting across the social spectrum. This in turn informs their experiences of COVID19 and of related lockdowns. No single narrative can encompass the full range of their lived experiences, issues and concerns. The richness of the data obtained through the survey has also provided a window into a wider description of older LGBT+ people’s lives, living situation, social networks and instrumental support

A Health Needs Assessment for people living with neurological conditions in Lincolnshire: Summary Report July 2018

The Healthy Ageing Research Group (HARG) is a group of researchers within the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln. In September 2017 we were asked by Lincolnshire County Council to undertake an independent health needs assessment for people living with neurological conditions in the county. A health needs assessment is a way in reviewing the current resources available to meeting the needs of a specific population. This report is a summary of the work. Please email Thomas George for the full report (email: [email protected] or phone: 01522 837496). The review looked at adults over the age of 18, and young adults moving into adult services. It covered a range of neurological conditions, including stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, among others. Lincolnshire County Council had previously undertaken a separate review looking at the needs of people with dementia, so dementia was not included within this study

Navigating LGBT+ ageing inequalities during challenging times : a case study of UK LGBT+ community organisations

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on older people's lives on a global scale but for some marginalised communities have seen a marked exacerbation of health and other inequalities. Research has highlighted the impact of the pandemic on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) people's lives, but less has been documented about the experiences of LGBT+ older communities and how their specific needs have been mediated. Community-based advocacy organisations are central to promoting LGBT+ human rights in the UK through its social movements, and this paper explores their role and significance during a distinct period of the UK mandatory isolation. Drawing on a case study approach based on qualitative interviews with six key LGBT+ community organisations in the UK, we captured their insights into how they navigated support for older people when faced with limited resources and the challenges posed by mandatory physical and social distancing. We position these events in current discourse about structural and health inequalities for LGBT+ ageing in the UK

What Are LGBT+ Inequalities in Health and Social Support—Why Should We Tackle Them?

Health inequalities are differences in health experiences and outcomes which arise through the everyday circumstances of people’s lives and the appropriateness of the systems put in place to support them. Such differences stem from social inequalities. As they can be alleviated through social policy, they are a key concern for global public health. Worldwide, they are the focus of governmental efforts to reduce avoidable differences in health (e.g., in the UK, Health equity in England 2020 [1] and in the USA, Healthy People 2030 [2]). The salience of health inequalities in public life cannot be over-emphasized; for example, it has informed policymaking since Engels’ [3] 1845 ground-breaking text on the condition of the working class in England and numerous policy initiatives since then (e.g., in the UK, The Black Report 1979, The Acheson Inquiry 1998, Fair Society, Healthy Lives 2010)

Experiences of self-managing progressive neurological conditions in people living in rural and remote communities: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

Wealth of neurological conditions, over 600+, therefore not feasibly possible to review all. Progressive neurological conditions are one of the most prevalent categories of neurological conditions, due to the progressive deterioration in functioning (WHO, 2006)