Seniors

Contents:

LGBT Ageing Action Group

The Young, The Ageing and The Restless (survey)

Links


LGBT Ageing Action Group

The needs of LGBT seniors are becoming more prominent here in Australia and overseas. This is due in part to the “baby-boomer” generation reaching older age and expecting to receive culturally appropriate services. In addition to the issues confronting all older people, LGBT seniors face particular issues related to their sexuality or gender identity, including:

  1. lack of family support in older age (especially those who have no children)
  2. stigma & discrimination from residents and clients of older people’s services
  3. stigma & discrimination and assumptions of heterosexuality from service providers
  4. age discrimination within the LGBT community
  5. finding residential facilities that welcome their same sex partner
  6. dealing with the effects of life long stigma & discrimination
  7. lack of visibility of LGBT people & culture in aged care services
  8. long term effects of taking hormones by transgender people

The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC), along with other organisations including the Gay & Lesbian Welfare Association and the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre have formed an LGBT Ageing Action Group. The purpose of this group is to:

  1. involve LGBT older people in older people’s services & representative structures
  2. identify the needs of older LGBT people
  3. identify the needs of service provides in caring for older LGBT people
  4. training and development of older people’s services on LGBT issues
  5. development of LGBT specific projects or services
  6. promotion of older people’s services among LGBT people

The group has produced an initial briefing note on issues for LGBT seniors (enclosed), held two social events for LGBT seniors in Brisbane and has developed an LGBT community questionnaire on ageing and carers issues.

If you would like to join the LGBT Ageing Action Group, please contact Paul Martin at pmartin@qahc.org.au or (07) 3017 1791. See 'Events' for details of the next meeting.


The Young, The Ageing and The Restless:

understanding the experiences and future expectations of ageing and caring in the QLD GLBT community

The Young, The Ageing and The Restless survey can be accessed on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=108692859411 or phone 3017 1777 for a survey to be posted to you. It is anticipated that these findings will be made available to the community in mid 2007.

The ageing of the population in Australia and its impact on our society both economically and socially has in recent years received increased recognition from governments and the community as one of the significant challenges facing us this century. By 2040 25% of the population will be over 65 years with over 1 million people aged over 85 years. The GLBT community will not be immune from the impact of this demographic shift.

To date, no government policy or strategy recognizes the needs of senior GLBT people or the significant barriers they face in sustaining healthy, independent and productive lives as they age. This situation needs to change fast to ensure that senior GLBT people are not ‘left out in the cold’ when it comes to inclusive aged care planning that takes into account their unique needs.

There is a lack of information or studies in this country on the emerging needs or issues of senior GLBT people. One significant international survey highlights a few key points including:

  1. Many GLBT boomers have not made specific plans for long-term care or have knowledge of what options are available.
  2. Many GLBT boomers have not prepared important documents such as advanced health directives or powers of attorney- yet such documents for senior GLBT people are particularly important given the current lack of legal protection.
  3. The findings that GLBT boomers- both men and women are highly active in providing care for both families of origin and choice, more so than the general population.
  4. The vital role of friendship networks and families of choice suggest that service providers should be aware of the importance of non-relatives as a source of informal care for GLBT people in midlife and senior years.
  5. Many GLBT boomers commented that they felt that their life experiences have actually helped them prepare for ageing as they have had to navigate the challenges of coming out, losses as they age and other life crisis

To ascertain whether these issues mentioned and many others are similar or different to GLBT Queenslanders, Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) Ageing Action Group in conjunction with a range of other service providers and community groups, highly encourages all concerned community members to participate in a confidential survey to enable us to understand the issues and needs of the community in relation to ageing and providing care and how to effectively respond to these needs.

If you would like to get involved with the QAHC Ageing Action Group or to find out more about the group please email QAHC General Manager Paul Martin pmartin@qahc.org.au


Links

Lesbian and Gay Ageing Issues in Australia
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~jamms/

LGBT Ageing Project – American Ageing Group
http://www.lgbtagingproject.org/

Lesbian and Gay Ageing Issues Network – part of the LGBT Ageing project and the American Society on Ageing (newsletters)
http://www.asaging.org/networks/index.cfm?cg=LGAIN