LGBT Listening Session in Worcester to Focus On Older Adults
Friday, August 08, 2014
The aim of these listening sessions is to investigate, analyze, and study health, housing and social connections for LGBT older adults and their caregivers.
“LGBT older adults and caregivers have been an invisible subgroup within two populations: older adults invisible within the LGBT community, and LGBTs invisible within the older adult population,” said Lisa Krinsky, Director of the LGBT Aging Project, a program of Fenway Health. “We want to ensure that this invisible yet growing group is not overlooked, that their needs as LGBT folks and as older adults are well met so that they can grow old with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
This listening session in Worcester is the third in a series of four sessions. After the listening sessions are complete, the commission will use the information to publish a report – which should be out by spring 2015 – that will make recommendations for further action by legislators and state administration.
Issues At Hand
Among the first two listening sessions, which were held in Boston and Cape Cod, a few issues surfaced among those in attendance.
Safe and affordable housing was one of the first issues brought up. Many older LGBT adults are worried that when they retire, there won’t be housing that will allow them to reflect their sexuality.
Additionally, LGBT adults are growingly concerned over a lack of awareness and sensitivity in the public and private sectors, especially when it comes to healthcare.
Looking to the Future
These listening sessions were scheduled for much more than to hear the concerns of the older LGBT population in Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Commission on LGBT Aging hopes to use this information to act and make life more comfortable for older LGBT adults.
The members of the commission - which includes Rep. James O’Day of Worcester and Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs – are hoping to use this data for legislative change, which will be addressed in a report.
“In a general sense, the population as a whole is becoming older,” said Jehlen and O’Day in a joint statement. “In the 21st century, people are more open to expressing their true sexual orientation and gender identity as well as communities accepting of people of all different races, cultures and sexual orientations and gender identities. Yet, the older LGBT population is faced with some unique aspects to their aging, such as lacking wider family/social networks that often provide caregiving and other support, as well as the possibility of facing discrimination still by those who have yet to fully embrace the concept of equality based on sexual expression.”
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