What do you think the future will bring gay people in the way of care facilities. Personally I don't want to

Question

go into a homophobic seniors home. And I don't want to be separated from my partner. Do you think that the gay rights advances are headed in this direction? There certainly will be enough of us glbt boomers in this situation soon enough. Does anyone have any information on things that are happening on this front.

Answer 1

This is a great question. So far I only know of one such facility that is expressly for aging gay and lesbian couples. It's in Mass.

There are a few really good websites/organizations which address this very real concern:

http://www.asaging.org/networks/index.cfm?cg=LGAIN

http://www.lgbtagingproject.org/guide5.php

This one should interest you most:
http://www.gaynorfolk-net.norfolk.on.ca/gay-seniors/

Answer 2

We're getting there, but progress is always slow. My advice is to check into your options LONG before you need them. I've worked in mainstream nursing homes where a man and wife with 7 children are in separate rooms and not allowed to sit together for meals. I've also worked in a private home where the owner has expressly told me she would love to have an older couple, gay, straight, whatever, come finish their days together in her home.

The main concern in nursing homes isn't even about being gay (strangely, but true). Nursing home staff often have an incredibly hard time accepting any of their patients as sexual beings. Its actually a huge problem, especially considering that physical touch (sexual or not) from a life partner (gay or straight) can keep a person healthy for years longer than medicine does.

As far as how things are going as a whole, yeah, we are moving in the right direction. The nurse who owned/ran the private home I worked in has spoken at national geriatric nursing conferences and other large medical conventions to educate other health care professionals on their gay/lesbian, as well as transgender patients, and what their care needs are, particulary as they age.

As for what you can do for yourself and your partner... research! Decide what part of the country you want to be in, and then do your research. If you're in New England, drop me an email. I know Vermont and New York's nursing homes pretty well.

There's also private care, which if you can afford it, is a better option regardless!!

Answer 3

Good question!

Nobody wants to end up in a Seniors' home, and even less in a homophobic one, and it scares me even just the thought of loneliness, once half of a couple 'goes'.

While you are giving me a great idea on creating the first retirement home for gay people (I am not aware if there is already one, maybe somewhere on earth -- well, they have retirement homes for musicians, actors, and I heard for animals, I see no reason why gay people should not have one).

It is a sad situation, as far as I know, for gays and lesbians, many of us, sadly spend the remaining days of life alone, some lucky ones their own home, some others in some institution. I guess regarding those 'later' years, it's a very common fear for gays and lesbians.

Answer 4

Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH) is a Los Angeles-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing affordable residential communities for GLBT older adults.

Answer 5

There are already Senior Gay facilities in the U.S. Many are heralded as ahead of their time in care and services.

I plan on (hopefully) living on my own until I die, but if I'm ever put at someone else's mercy, I'd rather enter a Gay Senior Center that specializes in our care. It just makes more sense, especially in the staff training an awareness.

Answer 6

There are a couple of senior centers geared to our community.

There are also a lot of centers run by the Quaker church (Religious Society of Friends) that are gay friendly.

I'm sure the future will see lots more.

Answer 7

In Australia we already have gay-only nursing homes. Seriously. They are on the Gold Coast, in Queensland. One in Sydney at Potts Point.
Google 'em.

Answer 8

There were two women who operated a medical marijuana inn in Santa Cruz, CA (Compassion Inn?). It recently closed and they've opened (or are in the process) a retirement home for gayfolk in HAWAII.