Collaborative Research with Older Lesbians and Gay Men'

1
Collaborative Research with Older Lesbians and
Gay Men.

• Nichola Lavin Researcher, Help and Care, Dorset
• Telephone [phone]
• E-mail nichola.lavin_at_helpandcare.org.uk
• Address Help and Care
• 896 Christchurch Road
• Pokesdown
• Bournemouth
• BH7 6DL
• Website www.helpandcare.org.uk

2
Background

• A participatory action research project looking
  at the experiences and needs of older lesbians
  and gay men in Dorset and surrounding counties.
• A joint project between Bournemouth University
  and Help and Care, a Dorset based charity who
  work with Older people and Carers of all ages.

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Why Research is needed.

• Only recent emergence of research in this area.
• Growing visibility of population.
• Up to 10000 Older lesbians and gay men across
  Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, many of whom
  remain hidden.

4
Multiple Levels of Discrimination

• Heterosexism
• Homophobia
• Ageism/Sexism/Racism
• This leads to invisibility both outside and
  within the gay community

5
Issues identified from recent research

• Isolation/Loneliness
• Lack of opportunities to meet other older
  lesbians and gay men
• Fear of discovery
• Fear of being out to services
• Lack of awareness
• Assumptions of heterosexuality
• Lack of sympathetic support
• Lack of friendly environments
• Concerns over financial security

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Gay and Grey in Dorset

• Research Group - 15 volunteers
• All older lesbians and gay men
• Aged between 55 and 87
• Recruited from across Dorset (Urban and Rural).
• Monthly meetings

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Project aims

• To actively involve older lesbians and gay men
  across Dorset.
• To identify the experiences and concerns of
  older lesbians and gay men in Dorset.
• To identify the factors which may contribute to
  their exclusion from the gay community and the
  wider community.
• To identify how these issues could be addressed.
  
• To implement actions to take forward these
  solutions.

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Prioritising Themes

• Learning from past research
• Group experiences
• Individual voices
• Knowledge of local area
• Feedback from local gay groups and organisations
• Feedback from professionals
• Exploration

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The first year

• Developed questionnaire
• Identity
• Social Care and health and Housing, Community
  (Gay and Wider)
• Social Network
• Getting Older
• Awareness raising Mainstream and Gay community
• Directory of local support
• Social group (rural)

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Future developments

• Raising awareness and providing education and
  support to those working with older people.
• Work in partnership with mainstream organisations
  to develop ways of meeting needs.
• Work in partnership with gay oriented
  organisations and support them in meeting needs.
• Development of suitable resources for older
  lesbians and gay men, e.g. information on gay
  specific issues.
• Development of volunteer support and social
  activities practical help.
• ????

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Issues/Tensions

• Integration v segregation
• Working with a hidden population
• Managing expectations
• Level of researcher input and group role
• Balancing group needs with funder and host
  expectations
• Sustaining group
• Time

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Benefits

• Snowball effect and acceptance of project.
• Appropriate language/methods.
• Empowering group, mutual learning.
• Relationship of trust between researcher and
  researched.
• Based on real need locally identified, powerful
  mechanism for exacting change, developments are
  appropriate and effective.
• Breaking down barriers mistrust of services