Supporting Aged Care Workers to Understand and Respond to the Needs of Trans and Gender Diverse People: An Australian Co-designed Quality Improvement Initiative

• Published in: Diversity and equality in health and care 2018, Vol.15 (3)
• Main Authors: Michael, Jaklina, Walsh, Lawrence, Goldner, Sally, Healy, Tina, Draper, Rosemarie, Kate McLeod, Kylie Elderand
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access; Advisory groups; Advocacy; Aging; Barriers; Bisexuality; Caregivers; Co-design; Community health care; Consumers; Dementia; Elder care; Fear & phobias; Flexibility; Gays & lesbians; Gender identity; HIV; Home health care; Human immunodeficiency virus; Indigenous peoples; Life events; Mental disorders; Mental health; New employees; Nursing; Nursing homes; Older people; Privacy; Quality improvement; Recruitment; Retirement; Self evaluation; Sex discrimination; Surgery; Transgender persons; Working groups
• ISSN: 2049-5471; 2049-5471; 2049-548X
• DOI: 10.21767/2049-5471.1000164

Objective: The need for accessible health and support services for older trans and gender people (TGD) Australians is well documented. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate resources to support aged care workers to meet the needs of TGD clients. Method: The quality improvement initiative comprised a co-design model with a focus on partnering with consumers, consumer representatives and employees to identify and respond to client needs. A Working Group used a literature review, consultations with key informants to develop resources which were then trialled with employees to evaluate their usefulness and effectiveness. Results: A 3-page guideline and two diversity stories were developed. 81% reported the guideline to be very useful; 90% said it was easy to understand. Likewise, 93% said the story was easy to understand and 72% said it was very good at providing knowledge. Conclusion: The guideline and diversity stories are a potentially useful resource for aged care workers to more effectively understand and respond to the needs of TGD clients. The multi-method and participatory process, which included TGD representatives, not only enhanced the usefulness of the resources, but sent a clear message across the organisation that equity of access was important.