Examining Cohort Differences and Resilience among the Aging LGBT Community: Implications for Education and Practice among an Expansively Diverse Population

Abstract

The aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community continues to grow considerably while often being faced with unique and unmet needs separate from younger LGBT cohorts or their non-LGBT counterparts. This article explores some of the differences in attitudes among generational cohort groups regarding coming out decisions; sexual risk and safety; the impact of evolving policies within systems and society; as well as the demonstrated strengths and resiliencies of the aging LGBT community. Implications and suggestions for education, training, and best practices among this expansive and diverse population are considered as well as continued research in the field of LGBT aging.

Building resilience in the face of adversity: navigation processes used by older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults living in Ireland

“…Without this awareness, nurses could potentially neglect key factors that either promote or erode resilience, factors which are vital to successful working with this population (Dentato et al . ).…”

“…Some of the resilience building processes identified in the study mirror some processes alluded to by other researchers, such as leaving hostile social environments (Asakura & Craig ), accessing communities of like others, accepting oneself and dealing with past negative emotions (Kwon , Asakura & Craig , Dentato et al . , Beasley et al . , Shilo et al .…”

“…The small number of studies conducted to date have identified some resilience building factors for LGBT individuals, including: social support; LGBT community connectedness; high level of ‘outness’; low levels of internal homophobia; being in steady relationship; self‐acceptance; avoiding and/or exiting hostile environments; and affirmation of sexual identity (Kwon , Asakura & Craig , Dentato et al . , Follins et al . , Beasley et al .…”

Pedagogical principles and methods underpinning education of health and social care practitioners on experiences and needs of older LGBT+ people: Findings from a systematic review

“…LGBT+ people's lives and make explicit how LGBT+ identities intersect with cultural, legal and socially oppressive practices. Thus, education needs to consider how the oppressive and marginalising impact of the pathologisation and criminalisation of LGBT+ identities is identified (Dentato et al 2014;Nambiar, 2011;Pelt & Galambos, 2017).…”

“…Health disparities affecting the older LGBT population (Hardacker et al 2014;Nambiar, 2011) and the common physical and mental health problems affecting the older LGBT+ population (Dentato et al 2014) are identified as important content, although the nature of the disparities and problems is not made explicit within the papers identified. In terms of health, two papers highlight the need for education to alert practitioners to the need to promote safe sexual practices and address HIV, in terms of transmission, risky sexual behaviours and treatment (Cannon et al 2017;Hardacker et al 2014).…”