Today is the International Day of Older Persons. On this day, the APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights wishes to highlight that, as the UN IE on SOGI’s latest report outlines, “older LGBT persons face social isolation and loneliness. Family rejection, limitations in the recognition of certain forms of families, and limited access to assisted reproduction techniques often leave older LGBT people with minimal family support.”
46. Research and data in the field of older persons is virtually non-existent. Nonetheless, the mandate holder has received information that suggests that they face social isolation and loneliness. Family rejection and limitations in the recognition of certain forms of families, and limited access to assisted reproduction techniques, 66 mean that often older LGBT people have minimal family support. These factors combined can leave older LGBT people in precarious situations when it comes to housing security and can increase the likelihood of the need for formalized social care; many are reported to be propelled back into the closet when moving to retirement settings.
47. Housing and support services for older persons are often not seen as offering LGBT people safe, welcoming accommodation and support.67 In Ireland, for example, a study found that many older LGBT people perceive nursing homes as unwelcoming or insensitive to their health-care needs.68 Family and/or aged care staff may refuse to affirm the gender identity of older trans and gender-diverse persons and force them to live according to the gender assigned at birth. 69 Australia noted that some LGBT people may fear reliving past experiences when encountering discrimination in the aged care environment.70 48. In addition, discrimination in employment can mean that LGBT individuals have contributed less to pension schemes and therefore have less income later in life. Individuals might not be eligible to the pension entitlements of same -sex partners, which could leave them unable to pay their rent or mortgage and lead to evictions. They might not be able to legally leave property to a surviving partner, and surviving partners might not be able to remain in public housing following a partner’s death. 49. With regard to end-of-life considerations, which affect all persons, it is common for the mandate holder to receive information about partners not being consulted and not being given decision-making power. Survivor benefits, including pensions and social security payments, are negatively affected in the vast majority of countries in the world. In its submission, Ireland noted that older LGBT individuals are often fearful that their end-of-life and after-death wishes will not be respected by some family members, a situation that is exacerbated when States limit the legal recognition of certain family configurations. Members of the community describe additional challenges in bereavement, including a lack of acknowledgement of loss, legal complications and the exclusion of non-legally recognized family as part of the unit of care.
(Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, A/74/181, pp. 12-13).
Other areas of concern include LGBT dementia care, and the kind of services offered to elderly LGBT+ people.
It is crucial to acknowledge the specific needs of aging and elderly LGBT+ people to ensure that they receive the care and and services they need.