title: Understanding the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Australians living with dementia, and their partners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) Australians living with dementia - and their partners.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted with LGBT people, their partners and service providers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LGBT people living with dementia experience unique challenges including the failure of some families of origin and service providers to understand and value their sexual orientation or gender identity. The fear of discrimination by service providers results in greater reliance on intimate partners for care and compounds social isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unique experiences of LGBT people with dementia are not well understood. There is a need to recognise historical experiences, including familial relationships, and provide advocacy to ensure sexual and gender rights are not violated. There is also a need to ensure that the experiences and perspectives of LGBT people living with dementia inform the development of services.
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Ageing Program, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Ageing Program, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crameri
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer's Australia NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lambourne
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Ageing Program, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health and Ageing Program, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whyte
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D062985:Health Services for Transgender Persons / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D063509:Homophobia / Q000523:psychology; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012934:Social Isolation; D018454:Spouses / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: dementia; discrimination; family conflict; gay; lesbian; trans