Social workers have a professional obligation to empower service users to make independent decisions and life choices and to respect their individual lifestyle preferences. This commitment to anti-oppressive practice can be challenged when working with people who have dementia and may be particularly difficult to effectively adhere to when those diagnosed, and/or their carers, do not fit what might be described as societal norms. This article explores some of the links between a non-heterosexual identity, ageing, cognitive loss and the challenges these intersecting identities may produce for...

Social workers have a professional obligation to empower service users to make independent decisions and life choices and to respect their individual lifestyle preferences. This commitment to anti-oppressive practice can be challenged when working with people who have dementia and may be particularly difficult to effectively adhere to when those diagnosed, and/or their carers, do not fit what might be described as societal norms. This article explores some of the links between a non-heterosexual identity, ageing, cognitive loss and the challenges these intersecting identities may produce for social work practitioners.