Sexuality and Bereavement: Implications for Practice with Older Lesbians and Gay Men

This paper explores the importance of recognising the impact of sexuality on the experience of bereavement in later life and the implications for social work practice. The findings of a recent research project with older lesbians and gay men will be discussed in relation to issues of bereavement and loss. The objective of the paper is to begin to identify how the experience of bereavement and loss in later life may be influenced by sexuality, and the experience of ‘disenfranchised grief’ (Doka 1989 Doka, K. 1989. Disenfranchised grief: Recognising hidden sorrow, New York: Lexington Books. [Google Scholar], 2002 Ford, P. 1998. “Sexuality and sexual health”. In Caring for older people: Developing specialist practice, Edited by: Marr, J. and Kershaw, B. London: Arnold. [Google Scholar]). The invisibility of the needs of older lesbians and gay men within literature and social policy means that this is a little-researched and understood area. It is therefore important for practitioners to develop their understanding of the needs of older lesbians and gay men so that they provide appropriate bereavement support.