Home comforts, when nursing a fear of aged care
Link9/17/2008
Thelma died peacefully in 2003, in her home, surrounded by a "chain of
lesbians" including nurses and cleaners, because she feared her
relationship would not be respected anywhere else.
Thelma and Maureen grew up when homosexuality was illegal and
considered by some to be a disease in need of a medical cure.
While Thelma's lesbian network rallied to nurse her until the end, the
effect of historical discrimination is sending some people back into
the "closet" when they use aged care services, a La Trobe University
health researcher has found.
