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Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of LGBT Older Adults
Author(s) -
Goldhammer Hilary,
Krinsky Lisa,
Keuroghlian Alex S.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.15974
Subject(s) - lesbian , medicine , transgender , health equity , gerontology , stigma (botany) , psychological resilience , population , social stigma , affect (linguistics) , public health , psychiatry , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychology , nursing , family medicine , social psychology , environmental health , communication , psychoanalysis
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults face an increased risk of adverse behavioral health outcomes compared with the general population of older adults, yet little attention has been given to factors contributing to these disparities or to the ways in which clinicians can address these challenges. We present the case of a 75‐year‐old widowed lesbian woman with depression to illustrate how a lifetime of exposure to discrimination and stigma can produce high levels of stress and isolation while also fostering resilience. We then offer recommendations and resources for promoting psychological health among LGBT older adults by attending to the historical and cultural forces that affect LGBT health, and by implementing inclusive policies and programming. The article concludes with suggestions for advancing research and policy to help achieve greater health equity for LGBT older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1565–1570, 2019