We know all about the importance of getting your communications right here at the Good Practice Mentors. It’s doubly important when you are trying to communicate with people who might be reluctant to engage with services, and particularly those people who might have had negative experiences of engagement in the past.
A number of Ageing Better areas worked specifically to support LGBTQ+ older adults across the Ageing Better programme, identifying them as more at risk of isolation in later years (few older LGBT+ couples have children) and maybe reluctant to engage with services, and then there are the issues around heteronormative care services.
Here in Leeds, we worked with Mesmac (a sexual health organisation less used to working with older people) and Age UK to co-produce LGBTQ+ older people’s social groups.
It seemed that groups worked well at a city-wide level in Leeds, Birmingham, and in other big cities – but as people aged further (which, for some people meant reduced mobility and confidence) a different approach was needed.
People told us they wanted to join local activities, but they needed them to be friendly, welcoming and open spaces where they could choose to come out (or not) as they wished, but which were sufficiently LGBTQ+ friendly that they could find the specific information they might need or want to see in a normal, open way.
It was a project that was co-produced throughout, and some group members offered training for community groups who lacked confidence in reaching out to older LGBTQ people in their local area.
At the end of the project they produced some great top tips for all of us, which I really felt were the most useful learning we could share – so if you want to make your everyday activities available to LGBTQ+ older people in your area, have a look at the guidance and see what you can do.
If you want to find out more about reducing barriers to engagement through good comms check out our training, and for more about working with LGBTQ+ projects you’ll find toolkits and information here and here.
Our Stronger Together Co-production toolkit also includes a theme on Increasing diversity of inclusion. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of the team about bespoke support in these areas by contacting us on GPM@syha.co.uk.
