Many senior citizens have family members and friends that they live with or are located nearby. These family members, whether by blood or by choice, can help with senior care and connecting seniors in need to the help that they require. Certain parts of our population don’t have these supports though, the LGBTQ population being one of them.
LGBTQ, or, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgende, and queer, individuals face unusual challenges that other members of our society don’t. For example, these individuals were not allowed to marry who they wished until very recently. This forced many to live a lifestyle that they were never comfortable with. Also, many people in this population faced prejudice and hate from others. Unfortunately, this has just been a part of their life for a really long time.
But now that these individuals are older and might be facing health issues, disability, or other complications that come from aging, reaching out for help becomes difficult. Years of discrimination makes it hard to know who to trust. Isolation and fear can create hesitation and force someone to try and do it alone, even if this isn’t necessarily the best choice. It’s what they’ve always done so they keep doing it.
Additionally, many seniors that identify as part of the LGBTQ community don’t have children that they can rely on for extra help as they age. Older adults without families are sometimes referred to as elder orphans because they don’t have the family supports that older individuals with children have.
It’s natural for elderly folk to have fewer social connections than they did when they were younger. That’s a part of life. As time goes by, people move away, pass away, or drift apart. But when someone is already in a vulnerable, secluded place, these changes can venture into dangerous territory. Someone who has family or a friend that they see once in a while can spot changes in behavior and identify growing needs or a disability. When someone connects with others, there are eyes on them that can help to see these changes and better identify when someone is struggling with day to day tasks in a way that they didn’t used to. For isolated seniors, this becomes less likely. Seniors living in isolation are less likely to get connected to the care they need to thrive as they age because it’s tougher to know it’s needed.
Each situation is unique. Even if your older loved one is not a part of the LGBTQ community, they have unique challenges, needs, and goals that should be addressed during their senior care. While some populations, such as the one described here, tend to be more vulnerable or face situations that other populations don’t, every single senior citizen has value and deserves to get the best care possible, regardless of what those needs might be.
If there’s an older loved one in your life, it might be a good idea to check on them and see how they’re doing. This might be exactly what they need.
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