As we age, all of us will face challenges. Finding affordable, high-quality home services, accessing health care, and staying connected to our communities are just a few hurdles older adults face when striving to live fulfilling, enriched lives. These challenges, however, grow significantly when one is part of the LGBTQ community.
Although about 2.4 million people over 65 identify as LGBTQ, their population is “largely invisible and immensely underserved,” says Dr. Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen of the University of Washington. They face “higher rates of aging and health disparities,” yet the “serious adversity they have encountered can jeopardize their willingness to seek care in old age,” Fredriksen-Goldsen said.
Some of the challenges LGBTQ older adults face are systematic, and not easy for any one person to change. But here are some simple, effective ways to make our immediate communities more welcoming for LGBTQ older adults.
Listen to their needs. Being both LGBTQ and an older adult puts one in a unique situation. Their needs often differ from someone who is just LGBTQ or just an older adult. Listening to what they need is the best way to prevent stereotyping and assumptions.
Use their language. LGBTQ older adults may use language or terminology that seems taboo or outdated. This is done not out of malice, but familiarity. They have often been using this terminology for decades. If you’re not sure what terms they prefer to use, just ask.
Invite them into your community. Thriving socially, as well as physically, is a challenge for LGBTQ older adults. Issues with mental health increase when an older adult identifies as LGBTQ. They often feel unwelcome in social groups because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Being clear and intentional about welcoming people of all identities is important in making everyone feel welcomed.
[image_caption]Emma Friend[/image_caption]
“It’s important across the nonprofit sector to meet the unique wants and needs of all people,” Senior Community Services CEO Deb Taylor says, “but nowhere do I believe it’s more important than when serving LGBTQ older adults. These are integral members of our community and it’s absolutely crucial that they experience that in the services that they receive.”
Time and time again we have seen that valuing inclusivity only makes us stronger. Because when we take care of everyone in our community, we take care of ourselves.
Emma Friend is a volunteer coordinator for Senior Community Services, through AmeriCorps Public Allies. Senior Community Services is a local nonprofit that helps older adults and caregivers navigate aging to maintain independence and quality of life.
Forgive me for being blunt, (after all, I am a 55-year-old lesbian and my language is apparently “taboo or outdated”) but this is a very poorly written article, not to mention patronizing.
It quotes provocative findings that LGBTQ older adults are “largely invisible and immensely underserved” and yet makes no attempt to specify how, where and specifically who are being underserved. (Specifics like those would go a long way in actually addressing problems.) It says that I face “higher rates of aging and health disparities” and yet doesn’t explain what that actually means. I’m then told that I’m terribly different from anyone else, that it’s a challenge for me socially, that people need to make a special effort to get beyond my taboo language (the assumption being that my language is wrong and young people’s language is right) and that’s it’s people’s “duty” to be welcoming to me.
Sheesh. And here I was living my life, going out to dinner, occasionally visiting my doctor, socializing with friends and volunteering! I didn’t know I was such an enigma or so needy and deserving of patronizing pity.
The writer clearly means well but sadly comes across as rather arrogant. I would have rather seen a piece featuring hard facts and details about disparities in healthcare tied to specific demographics rather than just a cry to better tolerate great-aunt-Susan.
This article keeps talking about all these unique needs but doesn’t include what those needs are. Who exactly is being underserved because they are LGBTQ? I’m not saying it isn’t happening but the article gives no details.
In addition, the tone is really condescending. Lumping all LGBTQ seniors together and talking about them like they’re this pathetic group of “taboo” outsiders that have to be explained to younger people? I find that highly offensive regardless of what the author intended.
Is this version better, MinnPost? Or will you discard this comment too?
I agree with the other people.. I am a 90-year-old gay man tired of hearing there whining about our problems. From my point of view mine are the same as any 90-year-old. I lived for 27 year in “gay mecca” San Francisco where these same concerns are constantly talked about.
My experience with other LGBTQ people is they have to learn that we are nonliving in the same world we lived in fifty years ago.