LGBTQ+ People and Dementia: A Good Practice Guide - Paperback

by Sue Westwood (Author), Elizabeth Price (Author)

Bringing together research, policy and the voices of LGBTQ+ people with dementia, this good practice guide highlights the importance of a person-centred approach.

Care and support should recognise and validate different - and often intersectional - LGBTQ+ identities. Readers are encouraged to move away from the idea of equality as treating everyone the same, towards treating everyone as individuals.

The vast changes in the social and legal status of LGBTQ+ people through recent decades can uniquely affect their later lives. Dementia services are often under-prepared to meet their needs, and there can be prejudice and discrimination.

Creating LGBTQ+ inclusive services can be challenging. The book explains how to deal with these challenges, giving lots of practical examples. 'Food for thought' sections offer opportunities for reflection.

Becoming more informed about LGBTQ+ lives and creating services which are LGBTQ+ inclusive will improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people living with dementia and encourage the best possible quality care.

Author Biography

Sue Westwood is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of York. Previously a social worker and psychologist, she has over 20 years' experience of researching, teaching and training about LGBTQ-inclusive care and support. She previously managed a dementia adviser service for a UK charity.

Elizabeth Price is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Hull and a registered social worker. Her work focuses on the lived experience of dementia, chronic illness, and sexualities.