Que(e)ring Home Care: Older Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Experiences of Accessing and Receiving Care Services

This exploratory study examined the impact of sexuality, gender and aging on older lesbian and bisexual women’s access to home care services and their experiences of receiving home care. This study had three objectives: (1) to learn about the experiences of older lesbian and bisexual women who currently access home care services in Ontario, (2) to gain an understanding of the impact of sexuality and sexual orientation on home care experiences, and (3) to explore older lesbian and bisexual women’s definitions of quality home care and the factors that enable (or hinder) quality care. This study used a qualitative case study design and was guided by a feminist political economy framework and the critical sexuality and LGBTQ studies literature. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 women who have accessed home care services in Ontario in the last five years. These interviews were subsequently transcribed and analyzed using an iterative thematic analysis. The findings of this thesis reveal that attitudes around gender, sexuality and sexual practices affect individuals’ need for home care, their access to care and their experiences of receiving home care. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating a consideration of gender, sexuality and sexual orientation into home care policy and delivery, as well as into the training of home care workers and case managers. These findings may be useful in the development of respectful and effective home care services that are sensitive to diverse experiences and to those of lesbian and bisexual families.