LGBT* FOCUSED AGING SERVICES

Research shows that human service organizations are currently unprepared to provide inclusive and appropriate services for LGBT* individuals (Knochel, et al., 2010; Hughes, Harold, Boyer, 2011; Putney, et al., 2018; Smith, et al., 2018).

In a survey of 316 area agencies on aging regarding working with LGBT older adults, training regarding LGBT older adults, addressing LGBT aging issues, and beliefs less than 8% offered services targeted to LGBT* older adults and only 12 % reported outreach efforts to LGBT* older adults (Knochel, et al., 2010).

As previously noted, one of the major fears of LGBT* older adults is discrimination from healthcare and service providers.

Knochel (2010) and Hughes (2011) show that their fears are reasonable, as the limited preparedness and awareness of human services agencies demonstrates a greater potential for incidents to occur.

The need for educating aging organizations on LGBT* older adults and their needs are further supported by an additional study which surveyed 87 aging organization providers (Hughes, et al., 2011).

Results showed that 58% of respondents felt the needs of the aging LGBT community were low priority or not a priority in their agency; 75% indicated there were presently no activities or efforts within the agency to address the needs of older LGBT individuals; 56% of agencies did not conduct outreach to the LGBT community (Hughes, et al., 2011).

How Policy Impacts LGBT* Older Adults

There is a dearth of policy and legislative action focused on LGBT* older adults.

A 2010 review of LGBT* older adult focused policy noted that there is no mandate at the federal, state, or local level to provide culturally competent services to LGBT individuals (Grant, 2010).

Currently, 26 out of 50 states in the U.S. do not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Fair Housing Act does not list sexual orientation and gender as characteristics individuals are protected under in terms of housing discrimination (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2020).

This lack of protection from housing discrimination may deter LGBT* older adults from moving into retirement communities or nursing home facilities.

Modification of the Fair Housing Act to provide legal protection against discrimination based off one’s gender identity or sexual orientation will allow LGBT* older adults to safely access care (Choi & Meyer, 2016).

Improving LGBT*

Older Adult Policy

There are a variety of methods for improving the current state of LGBT* older adult policy.

The Williams Institute recommends policy be developed focusing on providing social support networks for LGBT* older adults due to their increased risk of social isolation and lack of caregivers (Choi & Meyer, 2016).

According to recommendations from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute (Grant, 2010), the safety of LGBT* older adults in retirement communities and care facilities could be enhanced through enforcement of LGBT anti-discrimination regulations and requiring elder housing grantees to obtain cultural competency certifications.