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Internationally, increases in the numbers of older people will be reflected in larger numbers of more socioculturally diverse groups of older people requiring care provided by residential care facilities. Covert and overt instances of homophobia are evident within residential care services provided to older lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

To explore the perceptions of care staff working in residential care homes towards older lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Critical gerontology formed the methodological foundations for focus group discussions with care staff from seven residential care facilities. Hypothetical vignettes were used to stimulate discussion amongst participants.

Thematic analysis of the seven focus group interviews illuminated three themes: ‘Knowing me knowing you’, ‘Out of sight out of mind’ and ‘It's a generational thing’. Subtle as well as not so subtle forms of …