Ageing

Getting older is something that people of every gender experience. However, for some trans and gender diverse people, ageing or accessing care as an older person can be more difficult than for our cis peers.

This page includes information about affirming your gender later in life, advocating for your rights, accessing services, as well as links to additional resources to support and affirm you.

To develop this page, we worked with the ACON team responsible for the LOVE Project and who lead ACON’s work addressing the needs of seniors from LGBTQ+ communities.

Allies hoping to learn more about how to best support the trans seniors in their life, can also check out our older adults page.

Coming out, or affirming your gender around others, can feel like a big deal at any stage in your life. Check out our Coming Out page, it includes questions to ask yourself, and some sample messages to help you figure out what you want to say, and to whom.

There is no right way to be out, or a need to come out to everyone if you don’t feel comfortable or safe to do so. You get to be in control of how this looks and feels.

ACON’s LOVE Project aims to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) seniors to lead healthy, active and more social lives. The LOVE Project has developed a range of fact sheets for older LGBTQ people+ people, including:

• Social connections

• Health screening

• Ageing and HIV

• Elder abuse and domestic violence

• Depression and anxiety

• Legal tips

And more. Find the full list on their website.

There are a range of services related to aged care, which you may want or be required to access at different points in your life.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety have developed a Charter of Aged Care Rights outlining your rights as an aged care consumer and how to exercise those rights.

You have the right to:

• Be treated with dignity and respect

• Have your identity valued and affirmed

• Live without abuse and neglect

• Have control over and make choices about your care, and personal and social life, including where the choices involve personal risk

• Be listened to and understood

You have a right to live without abuse and neglect. You should feel safe, whether you are receiving residental aged care, services in your own home, or other aged care services in the community.

Charter of Aged Care Rights

Accessing aged care services can be challenging for trans people for many reasons. There is no reason you should not have your gender, life experience, and identity respected and affirmed at every stage of your care. If your rights have been violated, visit our Rights and Justice page for more information about who you can contact.

Aged care can include:

• Care in your home, including help with everyday life and accessibility modifications

• Short term care, such as after a hospital visit

• Residential care, such as moving to an aged care home

ACON and many other organisations worked to develop this resource, which is a great way to start a conversation about your needs and safety in residential aged care. TransHub have also developed a 10 Questions resource specific to the needs of trans people.

These questions are important for trans seniors to ask, as aged care services or service providers may have inclusion policies that protect cis gay and lesbian residents and clients, but not those who are trans or gender diverse.

It can be helpful to have an ally such as a family member, friend, or support worker help with this process by making phone calls or visiting services to see if they’ll be the right fit for you.

Dementia is the term used to describe a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. Dementia can affect memory, behavior, cognitive function, and the ability to do everyday things. Dementia Australia (formerly Alzheimers Australia) developed the resource LGBTI People and Dementia: The Important Issues in 2014.

This resource is specifically aimed at people with dementia, as well as their carers, partners, families and friends. It includes recognising the early signs, planning for the future, how to access and ask for care, and the pros and cons of disclosing one’s trans or gender diverse status.

Dementia Australia also developed a report on the experiences and needs of trans people, which you can read on their website.

As well as the LOVE project, there are some other great resources out there for trans seniors.

The LGBTI Health Alliance’s Silver Passport is a document that contains critical information about your gender, body, and relationships in one place, so you can have your lived experience and identity read and respected by health professionals and other settings. You are able to obtain a free copy on their website.

Silver Rainbow has a page containing a range of information for older trans and gender diverse people, including events, resources, and links to other services and information.

Our Authentic Selves is created by the Kinfolk project. This downloadable resource covers the rights of older trans and gender diverse people to self-determination and to expressing themselves with choice and dignity.

RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book) is a guide for health professionals that covers common clinical conditions, and general and organisational approaches to aged care across three sections.