School of Health and Human Services, Department of Social Work, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York, USA.
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Social Work, Stockton University, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Soc Work Public Health. 2021 May 19;36(4):509-525. doi: 10.1080/19371918.2021.1904081. Epub 2021 Mar 31.
The LGBT+ community is gaining long-overdue public health attention within the rapidly expanding demographic of older adults. As a group, LGBT+ older adults represent a range of diverse biopsychosocial needs and life experiences that may differ markedly from the general population. This has translated into health disparities experienced by this group and the emergence of policies calling for improved services for this community. In response, this qualitative study engaged ten focus groups (a total of 48 participants) throughout one mid-Atlantic state to better understand the experiences and perceptions of LGBT+ older adults regarding their expectations and needs as they age. Themes included (1) an emphasis on the nuance of connection as an aging LGBT+ adult; (2) a rich discussion of experiences with and expectations for quality of services as this group ages; (3) the realities of planning for future living arrangements as a member of this population; and (4) a clearer understanding of the two sides of advocacy for this group, as a personal responsibility and a call for allyship. Based on insights shared by participants, implications are discussed for improved and more visible engagement of this community within our heath and humans service sectors. We also affirm the need for greater attention from researchers and policy makers in respect to the whole health needs of this group. As a society and as professionals, we need to respond to these needs in better support of equity in the aging process for LGBT+ older adults.
LGBT+ 群体在迅速扩大的老年人群体中得到了长期以来应有的公共卫生关注。作为一个群体，LGBT+ 老年群体代表了一系列不同的生物心理社会需求和生活经历，这些需求和经历可能与一般人群有明显的不同。这导致了该群体所经历的健康差距，并出现了呼吁为该群体改善服务的政策。有鉴于此，这项定性研究在一个中大西洋州开展了十次焦点小组（共 48 名参与者），以更好地了解 LGBT+ 老年群体对他们在老龄化过程中的期望和需求的体验和看法。主题包括：（1）强调作为一个老龄化的 LGBT+ 成年人的联系的细微差别；（2）深入讨论随着这一群体的老龄化，他们对服务质量的体验和期望；（3）作为这一群体的一员，为未来的生活安排进行规划的现实；（4）更清楚地了解这一群体的倡导的两个方面，既是个人的责任，也是对盟友的呼吁。根据参与者分享的见解，讨论了在我们的健康和人类服务部门中更好地参与和更明显地参与这一群体的影响。我们还肯定了研究人员和政策制定者需要更加关注这一群体的整体健康需求。作为一个社会和专业人士，我们需要更好地满足这些需求，以更好地支持 LGBT+ 老年群体在老龄化过程中的公平。
