Care of LGBTQ older adults: What geriatric nurses must know

Geriatric nurses have a responsibility to promote the health of all older adults. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older adults are particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes and are less likely to seek healthcare due to fear of discrimination. Despite elevated risk LGBTQ older adults are often ignored within geriatric nursing as there is little evidence to inform care. To adequately care for LGBTQ patients geriatric nurses should recognize the effects of bias, appreciate the importance of terminology, understand diversity within the LGBTQ community, advocate for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in admission assessments, share best practices, and advocate for increased visibility. Caring for this population may be challenging, as it will require geriatric nurses to expand their knowledge of LGBTQ health, explore their own biases, and challenge institutional norms. However, through coordinated efforts geriatric nurses can work toward improving care for LGBTQ older adults.