Their numbers should increase as the older population grows in the next 30 years. A major challenge in meeting their needs is the limited research on older persons who are gay or lesbian. Even fewer studies have examined the experiences of bisexual and transgender elders. Existing research suggests that older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults are satisfied with their lives. The concerns they express about aging are often the same that other older people typically report.
Research highlights several issues that are particularly important for LGBT elders.
Stigma Older LGBT persons may face discrimination based on their age and sexual orientation. Consequently, they may not feel comfortable either in organizations serving older people or in LGBT community organizations, and thus may not receive useful services from these groups. The good news is that decades of experience dealing with discrimination based on sexual orientation appear to help older LGBT persons cope with age discrimination. Research also suggests that this resilience may depend on the older person s integration into the LGBT community, which varies widely. For example, older LGBT people differ in the extent to which they have revealed their sexual orientation to family, friends, and health care and social service providers.