title: Assessing capacity for providing culturally competent services to LGBT older adults.
abstract: This qualitative, interview-based study assessed the cultural competence of health and social service providers to meet the needs of LGBT older adults in an urban neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, known to have a large LGBT community. Only 4 of the agencies were categorized as "high competency"; 12 were felt to be "seeking improvement" and 8 were considered "not aware." These results indicate significant gaps in cultural competency for the majority of service providers. Social workers are well-suited to lead efforts directed at improving service provision and care competencies for the older LGBT community.
authors.affiliation: a Institute for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Colorado , Denver , Colorado , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer Dickman
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Portz
authors.forename: Jessica H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Retrum
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boggs
authors.forename: Shari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Wendolyn S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Gozansky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012947:Social Work / Q000592:standards*; D063106:Transgender Persons
keywords: LGBT; aging; cultural competence; qualitative research; service providers