Citation

Glaesser RS, Patel BR. J. Evid. Inf. Soc. Work 2016; 13(5): 458-468.

Affiliation

Department of Veterans Affairs , Gainesville , Florida , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/23761407.2016.1166825

PMID

27119978

Abstract

LGBT adults face unique risk factors such as social isolation, discrimination, and victimization, and occasionally they engage in detrimental behaviors like high alcohol and drug use and risky sexual activity that negatively impacts psychological/physical health. These risks can affect their overall health and stress the relationship with an older caregiver/recipient-partner following exposure to acute medical event. The experience of an acute medical event among a LGBT caregiving partner can result in psychological trauma. In this article the authors present a conceptual framework involving stress process theory, life course theory, and family systems perspective to understand the effect of stressors on LGBT caregiving partners. Implications for social work practice include assessing, coordinating care, counseling and negotiating services at micro level, engaging family-centered approaches to support positive transition to caregiving role at mezzo level, and advocating for policy and cultural shifts to supports and diminish stigma of this group.

Language: en