Conversations about Community, Connection to Place, and Housing Preferences among Aging Adults in Lexington, Kentucky.

While many researchers have called for housing to be addressed in age-friendly cities and communities, little research exists to guide communities through this process. To maximize the potential for adults to age in place, researchers partnered with a local Age-Friendly community initiative to conduct focus groups and learn more about residents' preferences related to housing and residential space. The focus group data offered a glimpse into aging residents' perspectives on housing to inform planning and development of housing in a mid-size city. This second phase of a sequential mixed methods study included qualitative focus groups with 19 aging individuals. Focus group sessions sought to better understand previously identified housing preferences, aging adults' sense of community, and their connection to place. Findings suggest that aging participants cared not only about the physical structure of their home, but also the community-based aspects of where they live. Study implications suggest that social workers, working with and alongside community members and aging-service providers who have local knowledge, can support age-friendly housing models that consider the housing preferences of older residents, as well as the resources and limitations of their community.

Barriers to Mental Health Care for Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Adults: A Systematic Literature Review.

Contemporary research suggests that transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) adults encounter formidable barriers to health care, including access to quality therapeutic interventions. This systematic review is one of the first to specifically explore obstacles to TGNC mental health care. A rigorous literature review identified eight relevant studies: six qualitative designs and two quantitative designs. Thematic synthesis revealed three major barriers to care and five corresponding subthemes: (1) personal concerns, involving fear of being pathologized or stereotyped and an objection to common therapeutic practices; (2) incompetent mental health professionals, including those who are unknowledgeable, unnuanced, and unsupportive; and (3) affordability factors. Results indicate an acute need for practitioner training to ensure the psychological well-being of TGNC clients.