Download this information sheet as PDF.

Deciding whether an aged care provider is suitable depends on many factors, including whether you’re confident that they’ll be LGBTI welcoming. Here is some information about what you can expect.

Find and compare Aged Care providers in your area

If you are eligible for aged care support, the 'service finder tool' on the government’s My Aged Care website can help you find and compare Aged Care providers in your area.

For more information about how to apply for assessment and to access LGBTI-friendly aged care services or facilities, click here.

What if there is no LGBTI-specialised provider in my area?

There are currently a limited number of aged care providers who have met the LGBTI specialisation standard. This means that in certain parts of the country, there are no LGBTI specialist providers.

Non-specialist providers may still provide LGBTI-friendly care. There are a range of resources that can assist you, either to decide how these non-specialist providers treat older LGBTI people or to identify alternative care from a community visiting scheme. 

10 Questions to Ask leaflet

The resource entitled 10 Questions to Ask leaflet can help make sure you ask the right questions about seeking LGBTI-friendly residential aged care. Nurses, doctors and other experts in aged care have developed this leaflet.

Helping find organisations and supports

Some older people find it difficult to get the aged care services they need, or to understand the services that they are entitled to receive. Care Finders is a free service to help with this. Read more on our "Care Finders" information sheet.

Community visiting

Some LGBTI community organisations provide trained volunteer visitors for friendship and support to older LGBTI people. Activities can include home visits, chats over a cuppa, listening to music, watching a movie or participating in a hobby, game or other activity. This may help you get LGBTI-tailored care, where there isn’t a formally accredited LGBTI specialised provider. Read more on our "Community Visiting Scheme" information sheet.

LGBTI Specialisation

You may want to find aged care providers who specialise in providing care for LGBTI people.

For trans and gender‑diverse people, this can provide confidence that correct names and pronouns will be used and respected. For an intersex person, this could mean that service providers understand the great diversity of bodies and are non-judgemental when providing personal care services. For a bi, gay or lesbian person, it might mean that they recognise and respect your partner, family of choice and other significant relationships.

My Aged Care allows you to use a filter to find providers who have undertaken additional steps to specialise in care for older LGBTI people: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/find-a-provider/search

You will see the following screens, as indicated in the pictures here:

If an aged care provider is approved to specialise in the care of older LGBTI people, they will:

• Have achieved the Rainbow Tick accreditation. The Rainbow Tick is a quality framework that helps health and human services organisations show that they are safe, inclusive and affirming services and employers for the LGBTIQ community.

OR they will have at least four of the following features in place:

• An internal LGBTI champion or ally network
• An established connection with a local LGBTI community organisation
• 90% of the staff trained in LGBTI inclusion annually
• An active and resourced LGBTI Advisory Group
• Recognise and participate in local LGBTI celebrations and events
• Policies and procedures specifically promoting LGBTI inclusive aged care service delivery
• A public commitment to LGBTI inclusion, for example, on their website
• Feedback from LGBTI people that they they have received appropriate care.

To read more about finding specialised care for LGBTI older people, there is the following information from the Government: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/support-for-lgbti-people