‘I’d rather not moonwalk back into the closet’: ‘Neverman’ spotlights transgender people’s dementia fears
TORONTO — Cuban-Canadian director Rodrigo Barriuso says he decided years ago he needed to draw attention to the difficulties some LGBTQ+ residents face as they enter long-term care homes, including examples he found "devastating and enraging."
Toronto-based filmmaker Rodrigo Barriuso created the film "Neverman" to shed light on the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals entering long-term care homes, specifically those who encounter discrimination and struggle with identity-affirming care. His film plays at the Toronto International Film Festival and was a finalist for a $25,000 prize at the Windsor International Film Festival.
The aging LGBTQ+ community is particularly vulnerable, as some residents are developing dementia and may end up in the same long-term care facilities where they experienced discrimination earlier in life. In "Neverman," transgender activist Lucia Neverman (played by Justin Vivian Bond) faces repeated aggression from staff at a fictional long-term care home as they attempt to strip her of her identity.
These challenges are heightened by fears of losing herself to Alzheimer's disease, with Lucia exclaiming, "I'd rather not moonwalk back into the closet and mentally regress to my youth."
The film represents real-life concerns regarding the aging of the LGBTQ+ population and dementia. Allison Sekuler, chief scientist at Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, says bias and misunderstanding persist in long-term care, often due to inadequate training in gender-affirming care. Ontario's long-term care standard of care mandates courtesy and respect for residents' dignity, worth, and individuality, regardless of their attributes.
However, merely having resources like the "Welcoming Trans and Gender-Diverse Older Adults to Long-Term Care" guide does not guarantee that individual homes will utilize them.
Experts emphasize the importance of staff and caregivers being well-trained to meet the specific needs of transgender individuals with dementia, such as hormone management, shaving preferences, and avoiding assumptions about physical attributes. Additionally, addressing the mental regression that may occur during dementia is critical, as it can cause confusion when residents revert to a pre-transition period.
Transgender people with dementia may also face challenges in staff turnover, as they must repeatedly explain their identity to new personnel.
Sekuler advocates for embedding personal stories into care plans and utilizing the support of chosen families to help transgender residents feel more comfortable in long-term care facilities. For Justin Vivian Bond, who has appeared in films, TV, and plays, the film "Neverman" allowed him to raise awareness about a subject he is eager to discuss. Bond conveys that she has always known she was trans and would welcome her transitioned self, even if she could not identify with her previous identity.
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