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. 2025 Feb 4;65(7):gnaf048. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaf048

Table 3.

Study Characteristics

Author (year), country Age of participants Number and identity Aim of study
Adan et al. (2021), United States Age range: 64–82 (19) 9: TM, 10: TW Identify the needs of older transgender adults regarding aging and long-term care.
Barrett et al. (2015), Australia Age range: 65–79 (12) 6: lesbian, 5: gay, 1: TW Explore experiences of discrimination for olderc adults.
Barrett et al. (2015), Australia Age range: 47a–79 (mean: 65) (30): NRb Explore needs of olderc adults living with dementia.
Barrett et al. (2014), Australia Age range: 65–79 (median: 70) (12) 6: lesbian, 5: gay, 1: TW Give olderc people a voice in the development of campaigns and resources.
Benoit et al. (2021), United States Age range: 61–77 (8) 8: gay Explore olderc adults experience and perceptions of healthcare services.
Butler (2017), United States Age range: 66–86 (mean: 71.9) (31) 26: lesbian, 5: care workers Explore relationships between lesbians receiving care and workers providing care.
Butler (2018), United States Age range: 62–76 (31) 26: lesbian, 5: care workers Explore experiences of lesbians with chronic conditions when accessing care.
Cloyes and Towsley (2023), United States Age range: 55+ (mean: 70.62) (13) 10: lesbian, 3: gay, 1: TGa Describe olderc adults concern with communicating end of life preferences.
Czaja et al. (2016), United States Age range: 50–89 (mean: 65.68) (124) 32: lesbian, 92: gay Understand the concerns and needs of lesbian and gay older adults.
Dilshani (2023), Sri Lanka Age range: 60–65 (20) 2: lesbian, 18: gay Examine issues faced by lesbian and gay older adults in Sri Lanka.
Dunkle (2018a, b), United States Age range: 54–80 (mean: 65.65) (31) 16: lesbian, 15: gay Explore older lesbians and gays perceptions of funded long term care services.
Furlotte et al. (2016), Canada Age range: 39a–75 (mean: 63.58) (24) 16: lesbian, 8: gay, 1: TGa
Note: all couples.
Explore gay and lesbian expectations about long term care homes and home care.
Gabrielson (2009, 2011), United States Age range: 55–65 (10) 10: lesbian Understand decision making processes and factors influencing lesbians’ perspectives of aged care.
Grant and Walker (2020), Australia Age range: 57–70 (13) 13: lesbian Explore perceived barriers and enablers for healthy aging for rural lesbians.
Green (2016), Canada Age range: 50–73 (6) 2: lesbian, 2: gay, 1: bisexual, 1: NR Determine experiences and perspectives of living in long term care for olderc adults.
Grigorovich (2015a), Canada Age range: 55–72 (mean: 63.9) (16) 7: lesbian, 2: lesbian and queer, 1: queer and dyke, 1: bisexual, 4: gay (F), 1: WLW Understand impact of sexual minority identity on accessing long term care in the home.
Grigorovich (2015b), Canada Age range: 55–72 (mean: 63.9) (16) (as above) Deepen knowledge of impact of sexual minority status with chronic illness.
Grigorovich (2016), Canada Age range: 55–72 (mean: 63.9) (16) (as above) Investigate older lesbian and bisexual women’s perspectives on long term care in the home.
Guasp (2011), United Kingdom Age range: 55+ (1036): NRb Examine expectations of heterosexual and gay people about getting older.
Henderson and Khan (2020), South Africa Age range: 50+ (22) 8: lesbian, 10: gay, 3: TW, 1: bisexual (M) Explore the experiences of aging for olderc adults living in South Africa.
Higgins et al. (2011) Ireland Age range: 55–70 (36) 13: lesbian, 22: gay, 1: bisexual and TW To examine experiences and needs of olderc adults in Ireland.
Hoekstra-Pijpers (2022), Netherlands Age range: 68–88 (10) 1: lesbian, 5: gay, 1: TW and lesbian, 2: bisexual (F) Explore olderc peoples experience of caregiving when aging in place.
Hong (2024), Taiwan Age range: 66–73 (mean: 69) (5) 5: gay and/or bisexual (M) Explore the perceptions, needs and willingness of older GBM to use long-term care.
Hosking et al. (2021), Australia Age range: 50+ (111): NRb To understand the experiences and needs of older LGBT people.
Hughes (2007a), Australia Age range: 58–72 (mean: 66) (14) 5: lesbian, 9: gay Explore older lesbian and gay people’s experiences accessing health and long-term care.
Hughes (2007b), Australia Age range: 58–72 (mean: 66) (14) 5: lesbian, 9: gay Explore older lesbian and gay people’s expectations of health and long-term care.
Jenkins et al. (2010), United States Age: 78 (1)1: lesbian Explore experience of an older lesbian managing disclosure.
Jihanian (2013), United States Age range: 61–79 (7) 1: lesbian, 5: gay, 1: TW and Gay Explore what constitutes as LGBT+ responsiveness by long-term care providers
Knochel and Flunker (2021), United States Age range: 56–73 (mean: 63.46) (24) 7: TW, 3: TM, 7: MTF, 1: FTM
1: NB, 1: TW and Gay, 4: TG (F)
Explore impact of gender identity on older TNB adults plans for use of long-term care.
Knocker (2012), United Kingdom Age range: 64–81 (8) 4: lesbian, 3: gay, 1: bisexual (M) Explore the views of olderc adults regarding getting older and accessing support.
Kortes-Miller et al. (2018), Canada Age range: 57–78 (mean: 67.39) (23) 23: NR Examine fears and hopes of olderc adults regarding long term care.
Kushner et al. (2013), New Zealand Age range: 65–81 (12) 12: gay Explore aging experiences of gay men in New Zealand.
Lampkowski-Sowle (2018), United States Age range: 51–67 (10) 10: lesbian Understand impact of past experiences on lesbians’ feelings about senior housing.
Leyerzapf et al. (2018), the Netherlands Age range: 55+ (18) NR
Understand experience and needs of olderc adults concerning care settings.
Lo (2015), Australia Age range: 62–82 (mean: 68) (14)14: gay Explore needs of gay men in relation to long-term care service provision.
Lof and Olaison (2020), Sweden Age range: 65+ (15) 5: lesbian and bisexual, 5: gay and bisexual, 5: TG Understand what olderc adults consider important to promote inclusion and recognition.
National LGBTI Health Alliance (2019), Australia Age range: NR (NR) NRb To provide a submission into the Royal Commission into Aged Care.
National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) et al. (2010), United States Age range: 40a–89 (284): NRb Understand the experience of olderc adults in long-term care settings.
Pang et al. (2019), Canada Age range: 55–89 (mean: 70) (24) 2: TM and straight, 4: TM and gay, 8: TW and lesbian, 2: TW and bisexual, 8: TW and straight Explore how older transgender adults perceive late life care needs.
Putney et al. (2018), United States Age range: 55–87 (mean: 67) (50) 44: homosexual, 4: bisexual, 1: other, 1: TG and heterosexual Gain insight into olderc couples needs and fears re residential care.
Rivera (2008), United States Age range: 61–92 (mean: 70) (15) 7: lesbian, 8: gay Understand needs and preferences of gay and lesbian older adults regarding long-term care
Robinson (2016), New Zealand/United Kingdom/Australia/United States Age range: 60–80+ (25) 25: gay Examine concerns regarding aging and old age for gay men.
Sharek et al. (2015), Ireland Age range: 50–74 (36) 11: lesbian, 2: lesbian and TG, 22: gay, 1: bisexual and TNB Explore olderc adults usage, experiences and concerns with long-term care.
Siverskog (2023), Sweden Age range: 67–85 (7) 2: lesbian, 1: lesbian and TW
4: gay (M)
Explore Swedish olderc peoples experience of long-term care.
Stein et al. (2010), United States Age range: 60–84 (16) 4: lesbian, 12: gay Identify psychological challenges faced by lesbians and gay men when accessing care.
Sussman et al. (2018), Canada Age range: unclear (9): NRb Report on state of LGBT inclusivity in long-term care.
Tonic Living, Stonewall Housing, and Opening Doors London (ODL) (2020), United Kingdom Age range: 50–80+ (624) 168: lesbian, 381: gay, 38: bisexual, 12: pansexual, 25: other Capture voices of olderc adults regarding choices around long-term.
Versteeg (2016), United States Age range: 58–87 (11) 3: lesbian, 5: gay, 1: gay and bisexual (M), 1: gay and TNB, 1: bisexual (F) Explore impact of aging and homophobia on olderc adults.
Waling et al. (2020), Australia Age range: 60–75 (10) 3: TW and lesbian, 1: TW and asexual, 1: TW and queer, 1: TW and pansexual, 3: TW, unsure, and DND, 1: TW and straight Explore trans women’s perceptions of residential aged care in Australia.
Waling et al. (2019), Australia Age range: 60–80+ (33) 19: lesbian, 14: gay Explore perceptions and concerns of older gay and lesbian people regarding long-term care.
Westwood (2016), United Kingdom Age range: 58–92 (mean: 64) (60) 29: lesbian, 24: gay (M), 1: gay (F), 2: bisexual (F), 4: DND (F) Explore aging, gender, and sexuality from an equalities perspective.
Westwood (2023), United Kingdom Age range: 50–89 (70) 23: lesbian, 30: gay (M), 5: bisexual, 2: asexual, 10: other (pansexual, queer, MTF trans, asexual lesbian, not specified) To explore delivery of long-term care services to older adults from religious care organizations and staff.
Williams et al. (2021), United States Age range: 60–88 (11) 7: lesbian, 3: gay, 1: TG and gay Examine experiences of olderc adults living in rural Appalachia.
Willis et al. (2016), United Kingdom Age range: 50–76 (29) 18: lesbian, 9: gay, 1: bisexual (M), 1: dyke (F) To examine older adults’ expectations for future home care and aged care.
Wilson et al. (2018), Canada Age range: 57–78 (mean: 67.39) (23): NRb To understand the experience of olderc adults with the health care systems.

Notes: DND = did not disclose; F = female; FTM = female-to-male transgender; GBM = Gay, Bisexual and other men who have sex with men; LGBTI+ = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex; M = male; MTF = male-to-female transgender; NB = nonbinary; NR = not reported; TG = transgender (gender not specified); TM = transgender man; TNB = transgender nonbinary; TW = transgender women; WLW = woman loving women. Participants who are reported as gay are male unless otherwise noted.

aData from participants under 50 excluded from analysis.

bNot reported (NR) beyond LGBT.

cOlder LGBTI+ adults.