New report outlines problems faced by LGBTQ+ nursing home residents
A recently published academic journal article by two University of Indiana researchers reports on problems faced by LGBTQ+ older adults living in the nation’s nursing homes and recommends actions nursing homes should take to ensure LGBTQ+ residents are treated equitably and without bias. The article, entitled “Postacute Care and Long-Term Care for LGBTQ+ Older Adults,”…
Revolutionizing retirement: How LGBTQ+ housing communities empower elders to live authentically
David Kilmnick knew an LGBTQ+ retirement community was needed when reaching out to elder facilities for educational programs. The founder and president of the LGBT Network on Long Island, New York, he recalls a facility telling him “we have none of those here,” referring to LGBTQ+ people. “I’m not talking this was 50 years ago or 20 years ago,”…
LGBTQ+ and disability advocate speaks on vision impairment, accessibility
When talking about myths of people with disabilities, Katherine Allen says there’s more to deafness and blindness than people think. “Just about everything [is on] a spectrum,” said Allen, who is visually impaired. Allen, 68, is active in the Philadelphia-area disability and LGBTQ+ communities. She is an accessibility consultant for Philly Touch Tours, an organization that…
The “Q” Word: How older LGBT adults feel about the word “queer”
LGBT adults, age 55-plus, represent the Stonewall generation. They are the AIDS generation. They fought — and died — to bring us every right and privilege our LGBTQ+ community enjoys today. They accomplished this within a hostile social and political environment. One of the most hurtful words used against this generation was “queer.” It was…
The fight to inspire: Ohio’s LGBTQ+ everyday elder heroes
With age comes a considerable amount of freedom — freedom to express ourselves, reflect on paths we’ve taken and rise up and recognize that our presence still matters at any age. “We need to remain true to our base and never lose sight of our collective mission to fight for the rights for all people…
LGBTQ+ elders need specific resources to thrive
The aging process looks different for everyone, and for queer people, getting older can present specific challenges. Aging LGBTQ+ people need access to housing and healthcare that is both affordable and affirming, but discrimination and high prices make it difficult to achieve these basic needs. For the LGBTQ+ community, planning for our futures is key. …
Combating social isolation with LGBTQ+ elders at national and local levels
Aging is a gift that not everyone gets to experience. This is especially true within the LGBTQ+ community, where discrimination, HIV/AIDS and a lack of resources continue to present challenges for the community time and time again. Today, many LGBTQ+ older adults find they face a new challenge as they age: social isolation. Nightclubs and…
Judy Lewis, advocate and fierce defender of Michigan’s older LGBTQ+ community
Longtime queer community advocate and all-around rockstar servant of the people Judy Lewis isn’t sure why we’d want to interview her, but she’s happy to accommodate our request. “I’m here for whatever you need,” she says. It’s a phrase that could be a guiding principle for a career that has seen Lewis jumping in to…
Aging LGBTQ+ Americans face additional caregiving challenges
While Darcy Connors was a nursing home administrator in the South, she also operated a COVID-19 recovery center. Connors and her staff noticed that two of the patients in their charge had a strong connection with one another — they were obviously a couple but were reticent to inform the staff. “One of the partners…
Long-term HIV survivors fighting for their lives all over again
The fight against the HIV epidemic has seen a number of good milestones lately – the World Health Organization reaffirmed July 22 that those who consistently take antiretroviral treatment and maintain undetectable viral loads don’t transmit the virus during sex. Meanwhile, among HIV-negative men who have sex with men seen at San Francisco City Clinic, PrEP use increased each…