Isolation. Neglect. Fear.
These are some of the challenges faced by gay senior citizens in addition to the usual trials of old age, say advocates of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual — or LGBT—elderly care.
“LGBT older people are less likely to reach out for mainstream services for support. So we have an underserved population,” said Kim Dill, executive director of Sage Upstate in Syracuse. “We have years and years and years of prejudice, discrimination, homophobia to deal with.”
Sage Upstate is a not-for-profit organization. It promotes the health and well-being of LGBT seniors in central New York through support groups, social activities and education for places such as nursing homes on the needs of gay senior citizens.
For gay seniors, say their advocates, one of the hurdles is sometimes other seniors in care centers. Many grew up in an era of less tolerance for gays.
For gay elderly, said geriatrician Bill Thomas, a Syracuse authority on alternative nursing home care, “There’s a stigmatizing and penalizing of people that causes them to go back into the closet. It’s sad but true.”
Sage is funded by government grants and private donations. About $145,000 of Sage’s budget comes from state funding.
For its policy and politics agenda, Sage Upstate wants to:
- Revise the national Older Americans Act.
The act was passed in 1965 out of concern for lack of services for older adults. Now, it has become the primary source of social and nutrition services to seniors and caregivers. It is up for renewal in 2011. Sage wants to amend the act so it specifically includes LGBT elders.
- Track LGBT elders by centers and groups that give them care.
Right now there is no accurate count of gay seniors in central New York, say their advocates. The U.S. census also doesn’t ask about sex orientation. At nursing homes, intake forms — used to gather important client-specific information before treatment — do not include an option for LGBT seniors to select, say advocates.
- Seek alternative funding.
Cuts in next year’s state budget has Sage losing 30 percent — or about $43,000 — in public funds from its 2011 budget; a loss of roughly 22 percent. The goal is to do extra fundraising to make up for that loss, say workers at Sage. Now, they’re planning to raise money through events such as house parties and through individual donations.
(Michael Contino is a senior broadcast journalism and international relations major).
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