This tip sheet guides care staff in supporting LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bi, transgender and intersex) individuals with dementia at risk of or experiencing social isolation.

Social isolation is when someone has little or no contact with others. It is different from loneliness, which is when someone feels they have less contact with others than they want. Social isolation can be harmful to a person's physical and mental health and has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.

LGBTI older people have a higher risk of social isolation because they may have faced rejection from their biological family or family of origin. They are more likely to be single and live alone.

The isolation an LGBTI older person may already experience can worsen if they develop dementia. Limited access to social interactions and meaningful connections along with changes in behaviour associated with cognitive decline, can increase risk of social withdrawal and isolation.