LGBT Older Adults in Healthcare

This assignment delves into the specific healthcare considerations for LGBT older adults. It examines their experiences within long-term care facilities and the role nurses play in providing appropriate and sensitive care. The importance of interprofessional collaboration and the development of specialized models of care for this population are highlighted, emphasizing the need to address the unique challenges faced by LGBT elders in navigating healthcare systems.

Running head: NURSING
Evidence based nursing research
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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The roles and responsibilities of the nurse in the practice setting of CALVARY
HEALTH CARE BETHLEHEM (Caulfield)
Calvary health care Bethlehem is situated in Caulfield and has a bigger name in the
fields of progressive neurological disease and palliative care. They provide services to the
Victorian community. Almost 4000 peoples get admitted in this hospital every year. They
used to work with the patients very closely and provide their best assessment and care.
The neurological service provided by this hospital is known as Statewide Progressive
Neurological Disease Service. It offers a big range of multidisciplinary assessment and
services to the people who are diagnosed with neurological disorder (Kirby, Broom & Good,
2014). The care was provided by a multidisciplinary team which consist of:
Medical specialists such as Neuro-psychiatrists, Respiratory physicians, Neurologists and
palliative care physicians; Allied health specialists such as Occupational Therapists,
Physiotherapists, Dietitians, Neuropsychologists and Social Workers; Specialist Nurse;
Pastoral care workers; and Researchers
Palliative care is also provided by this hospital and it focuses on providing the support
to the patients those who are having a progressive neurological disease. The objective of this
care is to help the patients in achieving dignity and comfort (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2014).
The nurses at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem were expert in taking care of the patient
who needs palliative care. They do this through supporting and advising the GP and also the
team providing primary care, by managing the symptoms of distress; by offering visit to
home when it is necessary, by providing the equipments that will give support to the patients
during their stay at home as long as possible, by providing the telephonic advice facility for
24 hours and by teaching the ways of caring the patient to the family. They used to provide

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the palliative care to the patients those who are at hospital as well as at home (Aslakson,
Curtis & Nelson, 2014).
According to an article “The Crucial Role of Nurses in Palliative Care, February 13,
2017” (NurseBuff, 2017), it can be said that the role of a nurse in the palliative care is
different from the other specialists of the hospitals. The palliative care nurse had to serve a
dual role of care. They had to provide expert caring to the patients also had to manage the
pain and the discomforts of the patient and their family. These roles are the most important of
the conventional duties that are being performed by a nurse like carrying out the treatment
and assessing the symptoms.
In Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, a Palliative Care Nurse can help the patient to
manage the issues regarding the disease of the patient by consulting with the patient’s
General Practitioner (GP). A specialist Nurses at this hospital are providing care, giving
advice and also providing information any time of the day or night (Kirby, Broom & Good,
2014). They used to offer counselling for proving support, information and practical advice
on getting help in the community. They can help the patient on a practical, personal,
emotional and spiritual level. They use music for the improvement of health and wellbeing of
the patient. They also offer physiotherapy for providing practical help in managing pain by
suggesting exercises. They help the patient in managing everyday activities by assisting them
with the help of some equipment. The Palliative Care nurses are trained for helping the
patients by providing them relaxation and offering some social support (Broom et al., 2015).
The Palliative Clinic at the Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, look after
the patients who so that they can get benefit from the team of experts.
The doctor, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and occupational
therapists of the hospital always tries to help the people to stop pain and

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different illness. The hospital is always available to the peoples those who
are living at home and they wish in improving the quality of their life. On
arrival of the patients they are being assessed either by a specialist doctor
or a nurse (Quill & Abernethy, 2013). The doctors appointed for the
patient together with some other specialists are involved in care of the
patient; they are the important part of multidisciplinary team and can be
contacted anytime after the appointment. If any of the patient become
too ill so that they are unable to travel to the hospital then a community
specialist nurse is appointed for visiting the patient at home. The nurse
provides overnight support in addition to a call to the community nursing
home for the palliative care patients those who needed the care at their
home. The Day Centre is type of a centre which provide care and also a
friendly place for the patient for meeting with others and opportunities to
join in various types of activities. The care program that is being offered
by the hospital used to focus on the patients mental and physical health.
It also provides opportunities that are being involved in one or many
activities that can provide the patient some rest so that they can be cured
fast (Back et al., 2014).
Program activities that are provided to the palliative patient by the
nurse of the Calvary Health Care Bethlehem are art, pet therapy, music,
Reiki, aromatherapy, tai chi, gentle massage, outings, travel in an
armchair, quizzes, movies, gardening, games, cooking, discussion and
reminiscence. The Palliative Care provide by the nurses are focused on the patients those
who are suffering from a progressive non-curable disease (Anderson et al., 2016).

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The Current recommendation of LGBTI policies in palliative community nursing from
the literature
The LGBTI is an abbreviation used for the people of different sexualities such as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. LGBTI peoples always experience some big
problems that are uniquely connected to their social lives and identity. Healthcare
professionals such as nurses are needed to be more aware of the problems that are faced by
most of the members of LGBTI community while providing them care. Not all issues
featured here are substantial for all LGBTI people yet familiarity with more serious hazard
variables or inclination to a few sicknesses is required (Barrett & Wholihan, 2016).
Wellbeing experts are here and there awkward with giving administrations to LGBTI people.
Morally mindful wellbeing experts will guarantee this does not bring about resulting
separation and substandard care. Patients may likewise turn out to be unreasonably vilified by
wellbeing experts when a medicinal determination, for example, HIV AIDS, is expected to
have been contracted through IV sedate use for instance. Wellbeing experts have an
obligation of care to instruct and educate patients with respect to how to diminish the danger
of their infection to themselves as well as other people, yet not to be judgemental about the
decisions of others (Barrett & Wholihan, 2016).
The report of Marie Curie “Hiding who I am” exposes the truth of palliative care for the
LGBT peoples along with the useful definitions such as the abbreviation of LGBT, some
acronyms that are being used by both students as well as the professionals. This research
proves that the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual used to face some important barriers in
getting the palliative care whenever they need the care. This report also shows that many of
older LGBT peoples are concerned about whether the service providers or the healthcare
professionals will treat them in a different way for their sexuality or inequality in gender.
Unfortunately, this behaviour from the professionals leads to the people of the LGBT

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communities to feel that the palliative care and the end of life care services are not made for
them and they will receive the worse type of treatment than the straight persons (Carabez &
Scott, 2016).
It is important for a healthcare professional that they must be aware of the issue of
palliative care for LGBT people. LGBT individuals have a higher rate of life-constraining
and dangerous sickness than individuals who are not LGBT. The danger of smoking and
liquor mishandle is higher among LGBT individuals, and has been ascribed to worry from
homophobia, separation and underestimation (Carabez & Scott, 2016).
It's additionally vital to take note of that LGBT individuals will probably be single,
childless, repelled from their introduction to the world families and experience harming
emotional wellness issues. These components are probably going to bring down odds of a
LGBT individual accepting stable and on-going casual care, for instance from an accomplice
or organic relative (Elk, 2015).
For a few people in the LGBT people group, the finish of life mind you are a piece of
giving could conceivably be the main wellspring of help they are accepting. This makes it
progressively essential to ensure you are giving patient-focused care to a LGBT individual,
guaranteeing their particular needs and decisions have been completely considered (Griebling
2016).
There are a number of issues and barriers LGBT people may experience at the end of
their life. These include:
Anticipating discrimination - LGBT individuals get to palliative care benefits late or not in
the least, either on the grounds that they suspect shame or segregation or they think the
administration isn't for them.

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Complexities of religion and LGBT end of life care - Palliative and end of life mind
administrations may not generally guarantee LGBT patients and their families have a similar
otherworldly needs tended to at end of life as some other patient (White & Gendron, 2016).
Assumptions about identity and family structure - Health and social care staff frequently
make suppositions about individuals' sexuality or sex personality that affect their experience
of palliative and end of life mind. Proof recommends that a few clinicians do segregate on the
premise of sexual introduction (Streed Jr. & Eliason, 2017).
Varied support networks - LGBT individuals toward the finish of life may be encompassed
by dear companions and care groups which speak to developed encouraging groups of people
nearby organic ones. LGBT individuals can likewise feel worried that their friends and family
won't be regarded and perceived as closest relative.
Unsupported grief and bereavement - Partners feel secluded or unsupported amid
mourning as a result of their sexuality.
Increased pressure on LGBT carers - There is expanded weight on casual carers, since
individuals are getting to palliative and end of life mind benefits late or not in any way.
It’s important for a healthcare professional to be aware of the issues that the bisexual
people and transgender people face every time in the society. If the nurse is treating the
patient who is a bisexual or transgender, it will be good to have a conversation with them
about their fears and concerns regarding the palliative care and if they will feel comfortable
in discussing the problems with the nurse then it will become easier for the nurse to treat
them carefully (Jacobson, 2017).
As a nurse for providing the LGBT patient better form of palliative care and end of their
life care I must follow the research of Marie Curie. This research proves that the two of the

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important points of good palliative care and end of life care for the people of LGBT
community are that if they are receiving the person-centred care around them or not and
whether their partner is involved and accepted in the treatment or not (Eliason & Dibble,
2015). If I am providing the palliative care or the end of life care to a people of the LGBT
community, I must also consider in providing the patient with data that speaks to assorted
gatherings, including the LGBT people group. I must review the dialect you utilize when
talking with your patient to guarantee you are utilizing more comprehensive terms, for
example, their partner. I must try to do some preparation which will enable the people to
better comprehend the particular needs and worries of LGBT individuals living with a
terminal ailment, incorporating into the setting of home care administrations. I must be
acquainted with your manager's inner approaches and works on identifying with negative and
prejudicial conduct. I must contact a nearby LGBT philanthropy or group gathering to see
more about end of life mind needs and the additional weights LGBT carers can confront. I
must be aware of life decisions and inclinations.

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