Supporting Aged Care Workers to Understand and Respond to the Needs of Trans and Gender Diverse People: An Australian Co-designed Quality Improvement Initiative

Jaklina Michael,Lawrence Walsh,Kylie Elderand Kate Mcleod,Sally Goldner,Rosemarie Draper,Tina Healy

doi:10.21767/2049-5471.1000164

Abstract

Objective: The need for accessible health and support services for older trans and gender people (TGD) Australians is well documented. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate resources to support aged care workers to meet the needs of TGD clients. Method: The quality improvement initiative comprised a co-design model with a focus on partnering with consumers, consumer representatives and employees to identify and respond to client needs. A Working Group used a literature review, consultations with key informants to develop resources which were then trialled with employees to evaluate their usefulness and effectiveness. Results: A 3-page guideline and two diversity stories were developed. 81% reported the guideline to be very useful; 90% said it was easy to understand. Likewise, 93% said the story was easy to understand and 72% said it was very good at providing knowledge. Conclusion: The guideline and diversity stories are a potentially useful resource for aged care workers to more effectively understand and respond to the needs of TGD clients. The multi-method and participatory process, which included TGD representatives, not only enhanced the usefulness of the resources, but sent a clear message across the organisation that equity of access was important.

Highlights

The need for accessible health and support services for older trans and gender people (TGD) Australians is well documented, and reveals the long term impacts of discrimination and stigma [1]
Of new and existing employees who responded to the questionnaire, 33% and 86% respectively (45% average) reported to have worked with TGD clients/residents in the past
Most importantly, using a co-design approach ensured that the resources were developed and informed by the wisdom and experiences of TGD people themselves, and at the same time advocated for transgender individuals and assisted to remove barriers to healthcare [19,20]

Summary

Introduction

The need for accessible health and support services for older TGD Australians is well documented, and reveals the long term impacts of discrimination and stigma [1]. Many older TGD people are reluctant to seek aged care services because of past life events, and fear of being treated with further discrimination [2,3]. With appropriate training and education, and a supportive organisational culture, aged care workers have a critical role to play in achieving equity and justice within health care [4]. Services that apply a TGD-inclusive rather than a cisgenderist framework (an approach that only addresses, for example, pathologising, misgendering, and marginalizing language), in ageing and aged care contexts has greater potential to meet the practical needs of TGD people [2].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion