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If gay men and
lesbian women face discrimination when they are young, active,
and able to take care of themselves, what happens as they age,
lose their independence, and need to enter nursing homes and
assisted living facilities? Check out an article in New York
Times (
"Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice and Uncertainty in the
Twilight Years" by Jane Gross) to get a taste of what
homophobia is like in the nursing home setting. The picture
isn’t pretty.
The article quotes experts as saying that most gay elderly do
not declare their identity when they enter the nursing home.
Instead, for fear of prejudice and isolation, they retreat back
to the invisibility that was necessary for most of their lives.
They introduce their partner as “their brother” to nursing home
staff and to other residents to avoid being shunned. They avoid
having their openly gay friends come to visit, and they hide any
memorabilia that may disclose that they are gay.
 Living
in the nursing home's closet takes its toll. The article
describes how gay elderly often fall into depression more
quickly, and have a higher incidence of premature death than
heterosexual elders.
A-PRO Caregivers
offer an alternative to institutional care - hire a live-in
caregiver! Stay in the comforts of your home. We can match
you with a professional caregiver that allows you to be who you
are.
| Contact us today for a
free assessment: 1- 604-771-4159 |
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