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Older bisexual people: Implications for social work from the 'Looking Both Ways' study
Rebecca L Jones1, Kathryn Almack2, Rachael Scicluna3
1a School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University , Milton Keynes , UK.
Journal of Gerontological Social Work
|January 30, 2018
Summary
Older bisexual individuals face unique challenges like biphobia, impacting their well-being. Social work must address these issues, recognizing care concerns and valuing existing support networks for older adults.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Gerontology
- LGBTQ+ Studies
Background:
- Growing literature on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults.
- Existing research primarily focuses on older gay men and lesbians.
- Limited guidance available for social work practitioners supporting older bisexual individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the gap in knowledge regarding the experiences of older bisexual people.
- To explore the impact of biphobia on well-being in later life.
- To understand care concerns and support systems for this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 12 participants aged over 50.
- Participants had bisexual relationship histories; half identified as bisexual.
- Purposive sampling to ensure in-depth insights.
Main Results:
- Biphobia negatively impacts the well-being of older individuals with bisexual histories.
- Care concerns for older bisexual people share similarities and differences with those of older gay men and lesbians.
- Participants demonstrated resilience and strong support networks beneficial in later life.
Conclusions:
- Social work professionals should understand biphobia and its effects.
- It is crucial to acknowledge the specific concerns older bisexual individuals have regarding care.
- Assessing and valuing existing support networks is essential, rather than assuming family support.
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