Stu Maddux

We were thrilled recently when we received a follow-up report about the screening of Gen Silent in the UK at Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival — Not just because the reviews were great (although, of course that’s wonderful) but because we love to hear how Gen Silent screenings go: who attends, what they think, and what impact the film has. It’s especially heartening to know that the film is being be seen by people who work with older adults and that it’s making a difference. For example one of the most most exciting things about this report is the number of people who indicated, after seeing Gen Silent, that they would like to get more involved with initiatives around LGBT/health care issues. The power of film to change LGBT aging is both humbling and encouraging.

LGBT History Month 2012
Age UK/Rainbow Film Festival
“Gen Silent,” The Hibe, Shrewsbury
February 27, 2012, 2:30 pm Report 

‘Brilliant. Really made me think. Heartbreaking, heart-warming’

Audience

We had a full house, about 100 in the audience. Participants came from:

• Social Care Agencies (13)
  Inc.: Age UK, Taking Part, Shrewsbury Home Care, Positive Options, Natural Health Centre, Unison, Leonard Cheshire, Police, Shropshire Council, T & W Council, PCT, CEDAR and Shropshire Partners in Care
• Care Homes (4)
  Deansfield, The Wheatlands, Netherwood and Morris care.
•  Colleges (2)
  Ludlow, and Walford & N. Shropshire
• Individuals ( 15 +)

The Film: “Gen Silent” (63 minutes, USA, Stu Maddux, USA)

There was a 100% positive response to the film on the feedback forms. Comments included:

“The film was excellent, thought provoking, things will need to change”
– students from Ludlow College

“It broadened my perspective”, “Interesting, learned a lot as I did not know much before. I still feel much can be done as gays are not as open in small communities, compared to e.g. Manchester”

“informative, I was able to gain a good understanding. And what needs to be done and what improvements need to be made in the health and social care industry”
– students from Walford & North Shropshire College

“An eye opener”. “Excellent. Heart breaking, as well as uplifting”. “Should be looked at more widely” “ Very moving film and interesting debates. Highlighted the need of LGBT to work closely with the local [NHS/PCT] Trust”.” A superb Q and A session”. “Beautifully made film”. “ Powerful, relevant and challenging”
– individuals from agencies

Q & A Panel

This was chaired by Heather Osborne (CEO, Age UK Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin).

On the Panel were:

• Debbie Price (Chair, Shropshire partners in Care),
• Stephen Chandler (Head of Adult Care & Support, Shropshire Council),
• Karen Kalinowski (Head of Care & Support, Telford & Wrekin Council) and
• Anthony Smith (Opening Doors – Age UK, LGBT Project)

Issues Raised

Need for training – for care staff and managers.
Need for links – with LGBT organisations e.g. Border Women and the Older Men’s Group.
Good Practice – the W Mercia Police have used a good training model which could be adapted.
Limited resources – some low cost easy ways forward e.g. use by agencies and at care homes of posters for LGBT events or organisations, rainbow stickers at the entrance/reception desk, amend forms to include “civil partner”/ “living with someone else?” as well as “married/”single”. RSH still using out of date admission forms in this respect. Include LGBT references in all information/images e.g. brochures, leaflets, policy documents. Stretched resources a problem for everyone, more so for LGBT service users. How can a service be “person centred” but have low resources?
Invisibility – how do you know a person is LGB or T? How to put people at ease and enable the person, be they staff, resident, client, patient or service user, to “come out” if they choose to? An “uphill struggle”. No reference to LGBT on initial or follow up care assessment forms.
Homophobia – How to challenge and deal with it whoever it comes from e.g. another resident.
History – the need to understand lives lived pre gay liberation.
Separate provision – LGBT homes and/or communities? LGBT people pooling resources and engaging LGBT aware providers? Most LGBT people have lived their lives integrated within the wider community and want supported integrated provision and care. Need for both, separate and integrated? (e.g. Jewish homes and integrated services for Jewish people)
Inspection/Monitoring – CQC “has no teeth”? Need to ensure LGBT issues are raised and responded to. Measures in place to do this? There are Regulations already, but are they enforced?
Inclusion – LGBT people are usually excluded by default (if not by design).Include LGBT people in designing training packages.

Going Forward

28 people, who attended, indicated on the feedback forms that they would like to get involved in further initiatives around LGBT/health care issues in association with Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Their contact details will be forwarded on to Age UK.