POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: GSOgymrat on November 20, 2011, 05:16:27 pm
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This study reminds me of my mother being concerned that because I'm gay I will end up old and alone.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/11/17/aging-lgbt-seniors-face-greater-health-challenges/31577.html
A new study warns that LGBT seniors could face higher rates of disability, physical and mental distress and a lack of access to health care services.
Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work determined prevention and intervention strategies must be developed to address the unique needs of these seniors, whose numbers are expected to double to more than 4 million by 2030.
Researchers believe the crisis will occur because aging and health issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender baby boomers have been largely ignored by services, policies and research.
“The higher rates of aging and health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults is a major concern for public health,” said Fredriksen-Goldsen.
“The health disparities reflect the historical and social context of their lives, and the serious adversity they have encountered can jeopardize their health and willingness to seek services in old age.”
Fredriksen-Goldsen and her co-authors surveyed 2,560 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults aged 50-95 across the United States. In the study, researchers report on how these adults have unique circumstances, such as fear of discrimination and often the lack of children to help them.
Investigators discovered senior housing, transportation, legal services, support groups and social events are common areas of service need in the LGBT community. The researchers found that the study participants had greater rates of disability, depression and loneliness and increased likeliness to smoke and binge-drink compared with heterosexuals of similar ages.
LGBT seniors are also at greater risk for social isolation, which is “linked to poor mental and physical health, cognitive impairment, chronic illness and premature death,” Fredriksen-Goldsen said.
Study participants were more likely to live alone and less likely to be partnered or married than heterosexuals, which may result in less social support and financial security as they age.
Experts have acknowledged that victimization and discrimination (because of sexual orientation or gender identity) can contribute to poor health.
In the study, 80 percent of the participants report that they had been victimized at least once during their lifetimes, including verbal and physical assaults and threats of physical violence.
An equal percentage reported emotional distress by being “outed,” and referred to as damaged property. Twenty-one percent of respondents said they were fired from a job because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Nearly four out of 10 had considered suicide at some point.
Twenty-one percent of those surveyed did not tell their doctors about their sexual orientation or gender identity out of fear of receiving inferior health care or being turned away for services, which 13 percent of respondents had endured.
As one respondent, a 67-year-old gay man, put it, “I was advised by my primary care doctor to not get my HIV tested there, but rather do it anonymously, because he knew they were discriminating.” >:(. ...