The Environmental Challenges Of LGBT Older Adults

Environment Environmental conditions are not often thought of as a correlating element regarding social bonds, isolation, support nor health and health care; however, our environment touches every aspect of our daily lives. McDaniels touches briefly on several environmental challenges LGBT older adults face, of which all are tied to transportation. Regardless of age, race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation transportation is a necessity. However, due in part to shirking social bonds and lack of family support it is deserving of special considerations, especially concerning health and health care, which remains a forthcoming topic. Nevertheless, we need transportation if for nothing more than basic life essentials (e.g. food, medications,

In fact, “caregivers and health care providers, believe that LGBT older adults should not be placed in long-term care (LTC) facilities because they would likely encounter discrimination, isolation, abuse, and neglect from staff and residents” (Zelle & Arms, 2015, p.29). In one study on this topic involving six organizations throughout the U.S., 85 percent of the staff respondents disclosed that LGBT older adults were not safe (Zelle & Arms, 2015). Such results prove alarming, which further supports aging in place or a safe

In fact, “LGBT older adults as a group are poorer and less financially secure than American elders as a whole” (SAGE, 2010, p. 8). A significant factor is the lifetime of discrimination this LGBT age group endured, which resulted in upended financial security. Unlike today, there were few laws of protection; therefore, many faced unfair firing practices, which hindered their lifetime earning capacity. More important, they were denied the benefit of safety nets afforded to their heterosexual counterparts. Such safety nets included Social Security spousal and survivor benefits, Medicaid, and LTC spousal benefits, tax-qualified retirement plans, employee pensions/defined benefits and Veteran benefits to name a few (SAGE, 2010). Because of such discriminatory practices same-sex couples fiscal welfare was affected. Fortunately, with the legalization of same-sex marriages the denial of benefits has come to an end, but for this LGBT age cohort the damage is