File photo A new resource kit has been put together to educate staff in aged care facilities about homophobia, so elderly people don’t have to go back into the closet. It includes a short video, workbooks for facilitators and participants, and guidelines on caring for LGB residents, and was created by the School of Nursing at The University of Auckland in collaboration with a working group drawn from the aged care sector and the Auckland LGB community. “Our research shows that staff working in residential aged care facilities may be unaware of their own prejudices or the unique needs of lesbian and gay residents and their families”, says Dr Michal Boyd, the project’s leader and a senior research fellow in the School of Nursing. The kit approaches the topic from a human rights perspective, as well as a quality of care one. Workbook discussion questions emphasise that regardless of ARC staff members’ personal views, all residents have the same rights and the same right to high quality care. “Our intention was to develop a story which touches on residents’ rights and the cultural aspects of being LGB,” says working group member Claire Mooney. “We also wanted to heighten staff’s awareness of homophobia and how to manage both their own and others judgements of LGB people.” The video produced as part of the campaign was designed to stand alone and will be made available online. Mooney hopes raising public awareness about the issue will help to smooth the path of older gay people entering residential care. “Perhaps one day a care home bus will participate in the Pride parade filled with LGB residents who feel recognised, safe, respected and valued in the place they call home,” she says. The official launch for the kit will be held from 6-7 pm on Monday 5 August, at the Auckland Women’s Centre.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 31st July 2013 - 12:21pm