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SAGE Dem: A model of care to improve health of sexuality and/or gender diverse people living with dementia

Determinants of Health

SAGE Dem (minority Sexuality And Gender Experiences Dementia) is a 4-year Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) project, funded from 2024-2028. The project was led by Dr. Louisa Smith

The project will develop a world first model of care for gender and sexuality diverse people living with dementia. The SAGE Dem model will be supported by co-designed cultural competence framework and a training and engagement toolkit.

Challenge

People living with dementia who are gender and/or sexuality diverse are a diverse and underserved group. After lifetimes of discrimination, they avoid or resist aged and health care services which assume heterosexual and cis-gendered consumers. LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations do not have the expertise about dementia and aged care to do support LGBTIQ+ people. Our literature review shows that there is very limited evidence about approaches that will best serve gender and/or sexuality diverse people living with dementia.

Solution

Understand what gender and/or sexuality diverse people living with dementia and their carers want and need. Develop a model of care which embeds the lived experiences of gender and/or sexuality diverse people living with dementia. Engage and train LGBTQ+ community-controlled organisations, aged care and health care services around culturally competent and dementia aware approaches.

Impact

The project hopes to embed the SAGE Dem model of care into best practice in care and support for older people nationally.

Partners

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

Dementia Support Australia

Hammond Care

Dementia Training Australia

Switchboard, Victoria

Links

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

Dementia Support Australia

Hammond Care

Dementia Training Australia

Switchboard, Victoria

Research Team

  • Dr Louisa Smith, Deakin University
  • A/Prof Lyn Phillipson, University of Wollongong
  • Professor Christy Newman, UNSW, Sydney
  • Professor Katherine Boydell, Blackdog Institute
  • Professor Alison Hutchinson, Deakin University
  • Professor Emma Kirby, UNSW, Sydney
  • Dr Thomas Morris, Dementia Centre
  • Linda Harrison, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
  • Dr Brooke Brady, UNSW, Sydney
  • Dr Amie O’Shea, Deakin University
  • Dr Dino Hodge
  • Dr Joanne Watson, Deakin University
  • Dr Renee Fiolet, Deakin University
  • Mx Alicia Hind, University of Canberra

Related work: Dr Smith’s research on reducing social isolation for LGBT+ people with dementia

Rainbow Connections: maintaining connections with LGBT+ people living with dementia.

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