New report uncovers 'invisibility of older LGBT+ people'
Despite decades of progress, the Centre for Ageing Better has discovered those who are queer remain overlooked in policy and practice as they age
A new report has been shedding light on the unique challenges and experiences faced by older LGBTQ+ individuals in England.
The top line
Published by the Centre for Ageing Better, "State of Ageing Spotlight: Older LGBTQ+ People" looks at addressing the invisibility of older lives, whilst also emphasising the urgency of recognising their needs in policy-making and service delivery.
It outlines the rapid growth of older LGBTQ+ populations, projecting an increase faster than the wider older population due to larger younger generations ageing, yet, a lack of data on LGBTQ+ lives has contributed to their invisibility in policymaking and service design.
The report reveals that those who are queer encounter more challenges linked to a lifetime of discrimination and stigma, including difficulties in housing, social connections, employment, financial security, health care, and access to appropriate services.
Yet, despite the progress we've seen over the past few decades, many still feel excluded from their communities as they age.
'This is a national issue'
Sarah Wilkinson, from the Centre for Ageing Better, told Hits Radio Pride: "One of the biggest issues this report has uncovered is that this older demographic is growing rapidly, with the number of those aged 50 and LGB has grown by a third over the last five years.
"Policymakers and service providers need to take this into account, which we don't think is happening at the moment at an adequate amount.
"There are pockets of good practice across the country, but this is a national issue.
"It's an issue for all people who provide services, that they need to take on board there is an increasing number of LGBTQ+ people in our communities who might need some kind of specialist support in order for them to live their lives in a way that means they can be financially secure, and healthy, in later lives."
'Many older LGBT+ people have experienced lifetimes of discrimination'
It's hoped the report will spark wider conversations about the provisions which need to be in place for the country's queer community, who are ageing, and who may have been subject to decades of discrimination.
Those who lived through the 1960s, when male same-sex acts began to be decriminalised, the 1980s and the HIV/AIDS crisis, all the way through to the 2000s, when finally, in 2003, Section 28 was repealed, lifting a Thacher-era law which prohibited the 'promotion of homosexuality' in schools, are now reaching a point in their lives where they might be needing a little more help - and it's exactly who this report is aimed at.
The whole point is raising awareness of the specific needs of LGBT+ people as they age, as Sarah explained: "Many older queer people have experienced lifetimes of discrimination, which has an impact now on things like how much they will trust services.
"For example, a gay man in his 70s now, would have grown up at a time when it was still illegal to have gay sex.
"There are still older people who have been impacted by aversion therapies - psychiatric treatment - on the NHS, and so, they may have tried to stay under the radar for a lot of their lives, and avoided contact with people in authority, because they had bad experiences when they were younger.
"Over the last 60 years, we've had massive social change, and sometimes, this isn't recognised.
"And the way people have been treated through their lives continues to have an impact on them when they're older.
"That's not to say all of that discrimination has gone away - for example, those who are transgender are currently facing massive hardships.
"All of those things go together, so that older LGBTQ+ people who need some more support may have fewer local connections with others, may be estranged from their families, and so it's really important the needs of this group are considered now.
"It's not rocket science - it's about involving older LGBTQ+ people when planning services, or thinking about how to make what you're doing more accessible to them."
'We need to get the basics right'
Part of the report highlighted how a higher likelihood of living alone puts older LGBTQ+ people at increased risk of social isolation.
It revealed that more than half of gay and bisexual men aged 65 and over live alone, compared to less than a quarter of heterosexual men - one aspect of life vital to the wellbeing of older people.
Sarah said: "We know that social isolation has an impact on all sorts of things, including health.
"Those who live alone are more likely to end up in A&E, for example.
"It's a really important aspect of the report, as those who are socially isolated maybe don't access the services they need to, they have less confidence, and when people get to later life, we don't want them to be living on their own in an isolated way.
"It's a time to not work, and pursue activities that you want to, and we want people to be able to do all that in their communities.
"One thing to remember is a lot of this community have been activists throughout their lives, and have been pivotal in pursuing the social changes that have made it more acceptable to be LGBTQ+.
"People need opportunities to get together, think about how they want to socialise, and just need to be included.
"There's a perception that a lot of LGBTQ+ socialising happens in pubs and clubs, but there are so many other ways that people get together.
"Especially intergenerationally, anything that promotes these connections are absolutely vital.
"But we need to also get the basics right - and that's about thinking about care, health, housing, and how we can make them more inclusive."
More from the findings
According to the findings, older LGBTQ+ people often face heteronormativity, homophobia, and transphobia in service provision, leading to delays or avoidance in accessing necessary services.
Many prefer accessing LGBTQ+-led services, which are often available only in areas with larger LGBTQ+ populations.
The report also highlights that older people have played a significant role in social justice for LGBTQ+ communities, yet they face the risk of becoming increasingly excluded as their care needs grow.
It suggests that national and local governments, alongside service providers and policymakers, should consider these distinct experiences and adopt inclusive practices.
The release of the report aims to inspire action among researchers, policymakers, community organisations, and LGBTQ+ members to improve the lives of older LGBTQ+ individuals.
For more information and to access the full report, visit the Ageing Better website.