LGBTTQ* elders have sexual needs too!!

I I came across the above picture and I wanted to share it with you. Personally, when I look at this picture, I see beauty...as well as sadness. The beauty I see is the rainbow that represents the LGBTTQ* community, in this case it will be LGBTTQ* seniors because they have so much knowledge, wisdom and love to share with the world. The sadness I see represents the door and how easily it is for many people in our society (especially those who are in power) to refuse care to LGBTTQ* seniors  by simply shutting their door.

When younger generations think about elderly people having sexual intercourse, I would assume many individuals would think it is weird or may be surprised that many still do have sex. With that said, in order to better serve our LGBTTQ* seniors today and in the future, social policies need to be implemented that will allow service providers to better meet their needs while providing them with a safe and secure living environment with their significant other, whether it be outside or inside a long-term care facility (Brotman, Ryan, & Cormier, 2003).

LGBTTQ* seniors have faced historical and current barriers in their desire to openly express their love for their significant other, while residing in long-term care organizations. As a result, many do not disclose their sexual identity because they fear they will be treated negatively or refused adequate care (Brotman et. al., 2003; Brotman, Ryan, Collins, Chamberland, Cormier, Julien... Richard, 2007). Brotman et al. (2003) interviewed a sexual minority senior who disclosed how difficult it can be for sexual minorities to disclose their identities in our society:

. . . we’re coming out of an experience of being badly treated in society, and there’s no sense that that treatment is going to get any better when you get older and more vulnerable within the system . . . . . . for most people who didn’t have the support of various organizations or were part of some kind of social movement, the scarring is pretty deep . . . (p. 196)

To improve the treatment of LGBTTQ* seniors and their spouse(s) while living in long-term care institutions, social policies must be implemented that would prevent homophobic expressions and behaviour by those who are caring for our LGBTTQ* seniors. As people age, they are limited to the places where they are able to perform sexual intercourse because of their mobility issues. This poses a challenge for them. Therefore, long-term care facilities should allow all seniors the privacy to perform sexual acts in a safe environment such as, in their own or shared rooms. 

One way polices can be adjusted is to provide LGBTTQ* senior couples with privacy to express their sexual desire. Unfortunately, when many LGBTTQ* seniors seek out long-term care services such as in nursing homes, many proceed with great caution when revealing their sexual orientation or they conceal their “same-sex relationship for fear of being badly treated...” (Brotman et. al., 2003, p.196).  An excerpt was included by Brotman et. al., (2003), which describes an experience faced by a same-sex elderly couple in a nursing home, “I heard a story once that one lesbian couple . . . one of the partners changed her last name to her partner’s last name so that they would be taken for sisters. To be put in the same room” (p. 197). This extreme measure taken by this couple gives us insight as to the extent of the discrimination they faced due to their LGBTTQ* identity.

 Neysmith (2003), recognizes that there are policy challenges that many elderly people face such as care policies that have discriminatory consequences for older seniors in long-term care. For example, Brotman et. al. (2003) states that many organizations that care for seniors “place little significance on privacy, and actively discourage sexual activity between residents or clients” (p. 200). In my opinion, this is absurd! Sexual intercourse between couples, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation and so on, is a healthy and natural part of our human nature. Elderly people have sexual needs just as much as younger adults do. Further, in order to meet the needs of LGBTTQ* seniors, Brotman et. al. (2003) argues that “[m]aking the sexual needs and identities of older people a mandatory part of assessment and care plans will facilitate understanding of the concerns facing older gay and lesbian clients”(p. 200).

In order for LGBTTQ* seniors to be better protected while seeking out or living in long-term homecare facilities, Brotman (2003) suggests that “protection of policy initiatives that incorporate homophobia as a grounds of elder abuse” (p. 198) is needed. The protection placed on LGBTTQ* seniors through this policy initiative would eventually lead to diminished abuse faced by many LGBTTQ* seniors (Brotman et. al, 2003). As a result, professionals who have imposed their homophobic behaviour on LGBTTQ* seniors would be forced to adjust their oppressive behaviours and work for the betterment of LGBTTQ* seniors, or find a job elsewhere!

Sadly, many LGBTTQ* seniors are still faced with discrimination and many choose to keep their identities hidden as a way to survive the cruelty of homophobic individuals. Brotman et. al. (2003) and Brotman et. al. (2007) both recognize that in Canada, there are many plans in progress that will provide LGBTTQ* seniors housing services that will be exclusively for LGBTTQ* seniors. Until then, Canadians should be non-discriminatory, respectful and honour our seniors regardless of their sexual orientations and make their lives more comfortable, whether it is providing them with more privacy to express their sexual needs with their partners while residing outside or inside homecare facilities. Let’s make our world a better and safer place for our LGBTTQ* seniors.

 

-Stephanie M.

References

Brotman, S., Ryan, B., Collins, S., Chamberland, L., Cormier, R., Julien, D., ... Richard, B. (2007). Coming out to care: Caregivers of gay and lesbian seniors in Canada. The Gerontological Society of America, 47(4), 490–503.

Brotman, S., Ryan, B., & Cormier, R. (2003). The health and social services needs of gay and lesbian elders and their families in Canada. The Gerontological Society of America, 43(2), 192–202

Neysmith, S. (2003). Caring and aging: Exposing the policy issues. In A. Westhues (Ed.), Canadian social policy: Issues and perspectives. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 397-409.

Big Gay closet (n. d.). [photograph] Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.435866938547.242121.351064893547&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=351852268547&set=a.435866938547.242121.351064893547&type=3&theater