Applying Qualitative Research Methods to Provide Quality Social Services for Supporting Older LGBTQIA+ Adults’ Health Needs

A more innovative methodological qualitative research approach was sought that would honor the lived experiences of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people as the experts on their own health narratives to improve health outcomes of this population. This research is pertinent, as older LGBTQIA+ populations often experience many health care services access issues such as discrimination, stigma, need to conceal their identities when seeking services, rejection from service care providers, limited aging care supports, social isolation, financial stability issues, and societal oppression. To uplift the voices of this population and understand these solutions to better health, a phenomenological lens and an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) plan were adapted for the seven focus groups (n = 33) in the study. Results of this qualitative approach helped to understand the lived experiences of older LGBTQIA+ participants, create context for these experiences, and derive shared themes for better understanding of what social services this populations needs to support better health outcomes. Implications suggest utilizing this research technique to improve practice and policy, with the aim of working toward bringing awareness to health disparities and improve social service usage for older LGBTQIA+ adults.