Unlike most family units, transgender people can have little or  no support to call on, and often use statutory; voluntary and private caring services; who in turn may themselves have prejudiced views about the transgender client.

Care is something that is often taken for granted. Illness and disability can occur without warning through accident or old age, and the opportunity to arrange and inform local caring services about their 'lifestyle' or past as a male or female may not be possible. If the client in need of care; is unable to wash; dress or manage basic care requirements, and informal carers are unavailable; outside care agencies are often brought in to take on the bulk of the caring.

In 2000 Samantha Johnson examined the social care of UK transgender people. The research involved contacting 120 of the UK's leading social and residential care organisations. The results are available here in a .PDF file. As is some guidance for social care providers. Some legal issues have changed - and it is important that the transgender zone library is used to ensure this remains up to date.

There is now more interest in social care of trans people however it is still far from acceptable!

Click to download (190kb)