How does the aged care system support LGBTQIA+ seniors?
Support at Home should allow an LGBTQIA+ older person to receive care without hiding who they are. A suitable provider should respect identity, partners and chosen family, protect privacy, train all workers including contractors and respond firmly to discrimination.
Key points
- Individual eligibility, availability and outcomes can vary.
- Ask questions early and seek independent help if anything feels unclear or unsafe.
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01Guide sectionHow does Support at Home support LGBTQIA+ older people?
LGBTQIA+ older people can receive the full range of Support at Home services, including:
personal care
nursing and allied health
domestic assistance
meals
transport
social support
respite
assistive technology
care management.
These services should be delivered in a way that respects the person’s identity, privacy, relationships, life history and preferred way of living.
Under the current Statement of Rights, older people have rights to dignity, autonomy, privacy, safe and equitable care, social connections and freedom from discrimination, abuse and neglect.
02Guide sectionWhat should inclusive care look like?
An inclusive Support at Home provider should:
use the person’s correct name, pronouns and gender
recognise partners and chosen family
respect intimate and personal relationships
protect information about sexuality, gender identity or intersex status
avoid assumptions about relationships, bodies or family structures
ask who the person wants involved in care decisions
respect preferences about the gender of personal-care workers
support connection with LGBTQIA+ friends, groups and community
understand that some older people may have experienced discrimination, criminalisation, rejection or institutional harm.
Some LGBTQIA+ older people may be cautious about disclosing personal information because of past discrimination. Providers should allow the person to decide what they disclose, when they disclose it and who receives that information. Australian Government guidance recognises that historical stigma and discrimination can affect whether older LGBTQIA+ people feel safe using aged care.
03Guide sectionAre partners and chosen family recognised?
They should be.
The person can identify the significant people they want involved in their care. This may include:
a spouse or partner
former partners
close friends
chosen family
a registered supporter
a legally appointed decision-maker.
Providers should not assume that biological relatives are the only legitimate family or automatically exclude a same-sex partner or chosen family member.
The Statement of Rights protects access to significant people, advocates and social relationships.
Where decisions require legal authority, the provider may still need to confirm whether someone is a registered supporter, attorney, guardian or other authorised decision-maker. That legal question is separate from recognising and respecting the person’s relationships.
04Guide sectionWhat about transgender and gender-diverse participants?
A provider should ensure that workers:
use the participant’s correct name and pronouns
respect clothing, grooming and presentation preferences
provide personal care without judgement
protect privacy around the person’s body and medical history
do not disclose gender history without permission
understand any relevant medication or healthcare arrangements
respond appropriately if records contain an outdated name or gender marker.
For personal care, the participant should be able to discuss worker gender preferences and any privacy or trauma concerns. Availability may affect whether a precise worker match can always be provided, but the provider should take the request seriously and explain its arrangements clearly.
05Guide sectionWhat about intersex older people?
Intersex people may have particular concerns about privacy, bodily autonomy, medical history and previous experiences of non-consensual treatment.
Workers should not ask intrusive questions merely out of curiosity. Relevant information should only be collected where it is needed to provide safe care and should be handled confidentially.
The person should remain involved in decisions about their body, healthcare and personal support.
06Guide sectionCan Support at Home help someone remain socially connected?
Yes, where social support or transport is approved in the person’s support plan.
Support may include help to:
attend LGBTQIA+ community groups
visit a partner or chosen family
attend social or cultural events
participate in peer-support activities
maintain important relationships
access inclusive health or counselling services.
The aim should not be to redirect the person only towards generic seniors’ activities where those activities do not feel safe or relevant.
07Guide sectionHow can I identify an inclusive provider?
Some providers claim experience or specialisation in supporting LGBTQIA+ older people. My Aged Care provider information may include service specialisations, and some organisations also hold external inclusion accreditations.
However, a logo or inclusion statement is not enough. Ask what the provider actually does in practice.
Useful questions include:
What LGBTQIA+ inclusion training do your workers complete?
Is training mandatory and regularly refreshed?
How do you support transgender and gender-diverse participants?
How do you recognise partners and chosen family?
Can my relationships and communication preferences be recorded in my care plan?
How do you protect information about sexuality, gender or intersex status?
Can I request a worker of a particular gender?
How do you respond to discrimination by a worker?
Are your forms and systems inclusive of diverse relationships and genders?
How are contractors and replacement workers briefed?
Do you have links with local LGBTQIA+ organisations?
Can you support me to attend LGBTQIA+ community activities?
Some services advertise recognised inclusion measures such as Rainbow Tick accreditation, but consumers should still confirm local workforce availability and actual service practices.
08Guide sectionWhat if the provider uses contractors?
The registered provider remains responsible for care delivered through employees, contractors and subcontractors.
It should ensure that every worker:
follows the person’s care plan
maintains confidentiality
respects names, pronouns, relationships and identity
does not discriminate
understands any relevant trauma or safety concerns
knows how to report inappropriate conduct.
A provider should not describe itself as LGBTQIA+ inclusive while sending unbriefed contractors who repeatedly misgender the participant, disregard their partner or make inappropriate comments.
Ask how inclusion standards are built into contractor selection, induction, supervision and complaints processes.
09Guide sectionWhat if I do not want to disclose my identity?
You are not required to share personal information that is irrelevant to your care.
However, sharing selected information may help the provider:
recognise your partner or chosen family
arrange appropriate personal care
understand important relationships
support community connections
avoid language or situations that cause distress.
You can ask the provider:
why it needs particular information
who will be able to see it
how it will be recorded
whether access can be limited
whether you can change or remove information later.
You have rights to privacy and control over personal information used in your aged care.
10Guide sectionWhat if I experience discrimination?
Raise the issue with the provider where you feel safe doing so.
Explain:
what happened
who was involved
how it affected you
what you want changed
whether you want a worker replaced
whether the care plan or worker briefing needs updating.
Providers and aged care workers must comply with the Aged Care Code of Conduct and deliver care with dignity, respect and freedom from discrimination.
You can also contact:
OPAN on 1800 700 600 for free, independent aged care advocacy
the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 to make a complaint
My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 for help understanding services or finding another provider.
My Aged Care specifically identifies OPAN as a source of confidential assistance for LGBTQIA+ older people navigating aged care or resolving provider problems.
11Guide sectionWhat should I do next?
Confirm the details with My Aged Care or the relevant provider, write down your questions and ask for important information in writing before making a decision.
12Guide sectionHelpful Local Home Help resources
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