Ageing Well in the LGBTQ+ Community: A Systematic Review and Meta-ethnography

Globally, older LGBTQ + adult numbers are growing yet they remain underrepresented, with heteronormative “successful ageing” models poorly capturing their realities. We conducted a systematic review and meta‑ethnography, guided by the Social Ecological Model and intersectionality, synthesising qualitative evidence on ageing well among LGBTQ + adults aged 45+. Following a registered protocol, we searched six databases up to October 2024, appraised studies with CASP, and translated findings across contexts. We included 83 eligible studies and generated ten themes on ageing well: social support and chosen families; resilience and self‑acceptance; affirming, culturally competent care; advocacy and structural inclusion; autonomy, ageing in place, and end‑of‑life planning; addressing stigma and invisibility; mental health and trauma support; safe, inclusive housing and long‑term care; financial security and legal rights; and spirituality, legacy, and generativity. These findings reconceptualise ageing as community‑anchored and rights‑based, identify actionable targets for policy and practice, and expose gaps undermining dignity, health, and security for older LGBTQ + individuals.