Coming Out, Coming In: How do dominant discourses around aged care facilities take into account the identity and needs of ageing lesbians?

Study

Human FactorsHigh ImpactModerate effect

Designing Inclusive Aged Care: Addressing the Unmet Needs of Lesbian Elders

Current aged care facilities often fail to acknowledge and accommodate the diverse identities and needs of lesbian elders, leading to a lack of culturally sensitive and inclusive services.

FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia) · 2006

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Key Findings

01Aged care policies and dominant discourses often exclude or fail to mention the specific needs and identities of GLBTI individuals.
02The heteronormative framework prevalent in gerontology overlooks the diversity of sexuality and gender identity.
03Absence of representation in facility brochures and exclusion from the conceptualization of aged care spaces silence non-heterosexual identities.
04Current aged care facility design, amenities, and flexibility do not adequately cater to the lifestyle, activities, and interests of this generation, irrespective of sexual orientation.

02

Application

Design takeaway

Designers must proactively research and incorporate the needs and identities of marginalized groups, such as lesbian elders, into the design of aged care facilities to ensure inclusivity and well-being.

How to apply

When designing for any community or demographic, conduct targeted user research to understand the unique cultural, social, and identity-based needs of that group. Review existing marketing materials and facility layouts for implicit biases and ensure representation reflects the diversity of the intended user base.

Project actions

01When researching user needs, consider how identity (e.g., sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity) might influence preferences and experiences.
02Analyze existing products or environments for implicit biases or assumptions about users.
03Propose design solutions that actively promote inclusivity and cater to diverse user groups.

03

Method & Evidence

AimHow do dominant discourses in aged care facilities overlook the identity and needs of ageing lesbians, and what are the implications for inclusive design?

MethodQualitative Research (Focus Group and Document Analysis)

ProcedureA focus group interview was conducted with self-identified, out lesbians aged 45 and over. Additionally, brochures from nine aged care facilities were analyzed to identify representations and language used.

Sample6 participants in the focus group

ContextAged Care Facilities

Variables

IV["Dominant discourses in aged care (heteronormativity)","Lack of explicit inclusion of GLBTI needs in policies"]

DV["Exclusion of non-heterosexual identities in aged care spaces","Lack of culturally sensitive and inclusive aged care services","User dissatisfaction with current aged care facility design and amenities"]

CV["Age of participants (45+)","Focus on lesbian identity","Analysis of aged care facility brochures"]

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Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes qualitative methods to explore nuanced user experiences and identities.
+Combines multiple data sources (focus group, document analysis) for a richer understanding.
+Applies critical discourse analysis to uncover underlying societal assumptions.

Limitations

The findings are specific to the experiences of the participants and the aged care facilities examined. Generalizing these findings to all aged care settings or all GLBTI elders requires further research.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of the study means findings may not be directly generalizable. However, the use of focus groups and document analysis provides rich, in-depth data. Triangulation of data sources enhances the validity of the findings within the specific context studied.

Think critically

To what extent do designers' own unconscious biases influence the inclusivity of their designs, and how can this be mitigated through rigorous and diverse user research?

05

Design Principles

"Design for diversity by explicitly acknowledging and accommodating the varied identities, experiences, and needs of all potential users."

Designers and researchers must move beyond heteronormative assumptions in aged care environments. Failing to consider the specific social, emotional, and identity-based needs of diverse user groups, such as lesbian elders, can result in spaces that feel alienating and unsafe, negatively impacting well-being and access to care.

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What This Means for Your Design

Older lesbian people often feel left out or misunderstood in aged care homes because the places and services are designed assuming everyone is straight. This research shows that designers need to think about everyone's identity, not just the majority, to make these places feel safe and welcoming for all.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify the need for inclusive design practices in your design project, especially if your target user group has historically been underserved or misunderstood.
2.Cite this study when discussing the importance of user research that goes beyond surface-level demographics to explore identity and cultural needs.

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Add to My Project

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Quick Cite

(2006). Coming Out, Coming In: How do dominant discourses around aged care facilities take into account the identity and needs of ageing lesbians?. FedUni ResearchOnline (Federation University Australia). Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/38a211da-5b14-43ee-acff-261f17b3fb62/designing-inclusive-aged-care-addressing-the-unmet-needs-of-lesbian-elders

Paragraph starter

This research underscores the critical need for inclusive design in aged care, revealing how dominant heteronormative discourses can lead to the marginalization of lesbian elders. The study's findings, derived from focus groups and brochure analysis, highlight the absence of representation and the failure of current designs to accommodate diverse lifestyles and identities. This emphasizes that design practice must actively challenge assumptions and incorporate targeted user research to ensure environments are culturally sensitive, safe, and affirming for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.