LGBTQ+ Seniors: Information and News Articles

Updated/Revised Date: 20th Sep 2022
Author: Sexual Diversity | Contact: SexualDiversity.org
Additional References: LGBTQ+ Seniors Publications

Synopsis: News and Information for and about senior LGBTQ+ lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders.

Definition

LGBTQ+ Seniors: More than 39 million people in the U.S. are 65 years or older, including 2.4 million people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Psychological service providers and caregivers for older adults need to be sensitive to the histories and concerns of LGBT people and to be open-minded, affirming, and supportive towards LGBT older adults to ensure accessible, competent, and quality care. Although social isolation is often associated with loneliness, they are not the same. This document focuses on social isolation, not loneliness. Reaching out to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) seniors at risk of being socially isolated may reduce the risk of suffering poor health and poor quality of life. Caregivers for LGBT people may themselves face unique challenges, including accessing information and isolation.

Main Section

Conservative estimates suggest that there are more than 3 million LGBT people age 55 and older in the U.S. - 1.5 million of whom are 65 and older. This over 65 segment will double in the next few decades as millions of Americans enter retirement age. Unfortunately, due to a lifetime of discrimination, many LGBT people age without proper community support, are in poor health, and are financially insecure. As a group, LGBT older adults experience unique economic and health disparities. LGBT older adults may disproportionately be affected by poverty and physical and mental health conditions due to a lifetime of unique stressors associated with being a minority and may be more vulnerable to neglect and mistreatment in aging care facilities.

Many retirement and health issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and intersex people are unique from their heterosexual counterparts, and these populations often have to take extra steps addressing their employment, health, legal, and housing concerns to ensure their needs are met.

There are many problems facing elderly LGBT individuals. They tend to have less money and worse health and are much more likely to be alone than heterosexual people. There are several reasons for this, but the main one is discrimination in the form of shunning from family, friends, and/or coworkers.

LGBTI individuals are also less likely to have strong family support systems and relatives to care for them during aging. They are twice as likely to enter old age living as a single person and two and a half times more likely to live alone. Because institutionalized homophobia, cultural discrimination, and harassment still exist, they are less likely to access health care, housing, or social services or, when they do, find the experience stressful or demeaning.

Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders

SAGE: Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources for LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations, largely through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging: The country's first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults.
Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation - A network of nonprofit LGBT organizations that provides health and social services to LGBT New Yorkers, including youth, seniors, people of color, and women. The Network focuses on non-HIV-related services, such as primary and preventive care, crime victim assistance, family counseling, and education. The Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation is located at 16 West 22nd Street, 2nd floor in Manhattan. Call 212-627-0305.
Case Management at Openhouse: The Openhouse case management program offers a comprehensive look at the needs of LGBT older adults, adults with disabilities, and/or caregivers to ensure high-quality holistic care, coordination of services, and follow-through while maintaining the dignity of each individual and addressing their unique needs.
Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing: GLEH is the premier developer of LGBT-friendly affordable housing for low-income seniors and is particularly committed to meeting the growing needs of people with HIV/AIDS. Its mission is to improve the life experience of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender seniors by developing affordable housing, providing comprehensive care, and ensuring, through advocacy and education, a brighter future for the LGBT elder community.
Griot Circle: An intergenerational and culturally diverse community-based organization serving older LGBT persons, especially elders of color. Griot Circle is located at 25 Flatbush Avenue, 5th floor in Brooklyn. Call 718-246-2775.

Latest LGBTQ+ Seniors Publications
The above information is from our reference library of material relating to LGBTQ+ Seniors that includes:
Aging Neutralizes Sex Differences in the Brain Aging implies reduced amounts of resources are available for reproduction and other activities for both sexes, but competition between males means the cost of increased investment is more significant than for females.
Senior LGB Suffer More Chronic Health Conditions than Heterosexual Women Study shows lesbian and bisexual older women more likely than heterosexual older women to suffer chronic health conditions, experience sleep problems and drink excessively.
Married LGBT Seniors are Healthier and Happier Than Singles Research finds married LGBT study participants report better physical and mental health, more social support and greater financial resources than singles.
New Findings Reveal Health and Aging Experiences of U.S. Senior LGBT Research revealed LGBT older adults are both resilient and at-risk, with higher rates of disability, cardiovascular disease, depression and social isolation.
PDA Efforts to Improve Aging Services for LGBT Seniors Training session to improve cultural competency inside aging services for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults.

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