Almost 20% of Canadians are 65 or older. Although we aren’t sure the exact number of 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults, some estimates have been between 2% and 10%. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors are often overlooked when considering senior care, retirement living, nursing homes, community programs, and healthcare.
Many 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors experienced criminalization, discrimination, family rejection, and violence throughout their lives. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors continue to face stigma, discrimination, and worse health outcomes while receiving care. This long-term stress from discrimination can have lasting consequences on mental health and wellbeing, and improvements are needed to better support our aging 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
Researchers and government often focus resources on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Although this work is extremely important, impactful, and still requires more focus and funding, we often forget about our aging 2SLGBTQIA+ population. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors report higher levels of social isolation than other seniors and other 2SLGBTQIA+ age groups. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors also experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts compared to other older adults.
Improving care
2SLGBTQIA+ seniors receiving care, whether at home, in a retirement community, in a nursing facility, or a hospital stay, can often experience stigma and discrimination. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors and couples often report having to go back into the closet when moving into a retirement or nursing facility due to a lack of inclusive care options. Requiring training for care providers and education programs for other residents have been proposed to promote a more inclusive environment. Connecting 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors in care with the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community through programming, events, and partnering with local organizations can make residents feel represented and reduce social isolation.
Care providers are encouraged acknowledge the impact of minority stress, ask about sources of support, promote a positive view of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and identity, recognize unmarried partners and chosen family, facilitate connections to the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and develop a list of 2SLGBTQIA+ supports that residents can access. Care facilities can use inclusive language, train staff, celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ events and holidays, create inclusive forms and paperwork, and ask residents who they are comfortable with knowing their sexual orientation or gender identity. Taking a person-centered approach, including asking how they want to be supported or how they want to be addressed, is the best way to provide individual inclusive and affirming care.
Promoting mental wellbeing
Ageism is common in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, which may deter older members to seek community support or connections. 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors report low use of mental health services due to a lack of representation for older adults and poor understanding from providers of how their past impacts their current mental health. Limited knowledge about mental health is frequently reported among 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors, therefore mental health and wellbeing programming in senior care facilities may benefit all residents. Research has shown that having strong social networks, community connections, and a positive view of sexual orientation and gender identity can improve mental health for 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults. Organizations such as the ElderBerries, can help older 2SLGBTQIA+ adults find community connection.
2SLGBTQIA+ seniors are resilient members of our community who have often experienced discrimination and violence in response to being open about their identity, which overtime created a more accepting society and provided a safer environment for younger generations. It is up to us to support aging generations of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, so that they can age with pride.
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