6 - Examining the views and attitudes of health and social care professionals towards older trans people: findings from the Trans Ageing and Care study

Summary

Introduction

In this chapter, we focus on the perceptions and attitudes of health and social care professionals towards older trans people in the United Kingdom. Within the UK, the need for systemic change in delivering inclusive healthcare for trans people is a longstanding issue. In 2016, the UK House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee identified significant problems in delivering good standards of care to trans individuals accessing trans- related healthcare, including professionals’ knowledge levels and trans people's experiences of discriminatory treatment. In 2019, the Royal College of General Practitioners called for a whole- system approach to improving services for trans patients. More recent research on integrated care for trans adults has highlighted persistent gaps in professional knowledge levels and service provision (inclusive of GPs), leading to a renewed call for developing more person- led models of gender- affirming care (Holti et al, 2023).

It is important to acknowledge that not all trans individuals wish to access gender- affirming treatments or transition through surgical and/ or medical means; regardless, they will have contact with helping professionals regarding other health and social care needs. Indeed, large survey findings show that there is likely to be an increase in the number of people from younger generations identifying as gender non- conforming and therefore being less likely to identify as trans as they age in the UK (Government Equalities Office, 2018). The same survey has highlighted that UK trans citizens report lower levels of life satisfaction compared to LGB and non- LGB cisgender people and experience multiple barriers to healthcare, including having their specific needs ignored and being the subject of inappropriate questions (Government Equalities Office, 2018). There is much work to be done in moving towards a trans- inclusive approach to health and social care delivery for people with care and support needs, including those in later life. This is even more imperative in the context of an ageing population with predicted higher numbers of trans citizens needing access to good housing, health and social care services to support their wellbeing, rights and dignity in later life.