By Maya Ocasio, St. John’s Community Care Intern and SIUE Student
Pride Month is both a celebration and a chance to build bridges. As an advocate for older adults, St. John’s Community Care is spreading the word about challenges faced by older LGBTQ+ people. More older adults who are LGBTQ+ have dementia compared to cisgender heterosexual people their age. In addition, older LGBTQ+ adults and caregivers are far more likely to have faced discrimination, social stigma, and the effects of prejudice.As a result:
- They may avoid seeking health resources and then experience negative effects on their mental and cognitive health.
- One third of LGBTQ+ older adults fear having to hide their sexual or gender identity when seeking senior housing.
- Caregivers who are LGBTQ+ often care for their loved ones in isolation which can lead to poor mental and physical health.
In this article we will discuss the challenges that LGBTQ+ people face with dementia, as well as the resources that St. John’s Community Care and other organizations offer for support.
Dementia Affects LGBTQ+ People More
In 2019, researchers at the University of California reported they had found that LGBTQ+ people had higher rates of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline as they age. The reason is unclear, but researchers have ideas. According to Jason Flatt, PhD, MPH, “… we believe it may be due to higher rates of depression, inability to work, high stress, and a lack of regular access to healthcare.”
A LGBTQ+ person with dementia not only has to carry the social stigmas that surround societal perceptions of those with dementia but may often feel worried about receiving poor care because of their identity. This fear of discrimination can, in turn, cause stress for LGBTQ+ older adults within healthcare environments and, as mentioned above, can lead to health changes such as higher rates of anxiety and depression. Other challenges exist in addition to psychological health impacts due to discrimination, which can include:
- Substance use disorder,
- Barriers to home and community-based services,
- Lower access to social supports later in life, and
- Discrimination within long-term care facilities, assisted living, or housing.
Local Resources and Programs Available for LGBTQ+ Older Adults
At St. John’s Community Care, we provide service and care to everyone in a positive, empowering environment. Programs and services include:
Adult Day Services
Our Adult Day Program is an affordable alternative to in-home care and assisted living where we offer professionally staffed care, therapies such as music, art, and storytelling, and hot meals.
Information and Assistance
We also have our Caregiver Information and Assistance Program in which you can learn about various resources and programs when caring for a loved one with dementia or other disability.
Medical Equipment Loans
St. John’s Community Care’s Collinsville location is home to our free Medical Equipment Loan Program for anyone in need of medical equipment. The list of equipment we offer includes:
- Wheelchairs
- Walkers
- Commodes
- Bath chairs
- Crutches
- Canes
Additional Support for LGBTQ+ Older Adults and Caregivers
Looking for more support? Here are some great resources we recommend within the region and nationwide:
- Metro East Pride: Offers a resources page for those of any age seeking help and assistance with many aspects of their life such as healthcare, housing, and mental health.
- SAGE Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders: Provides resources and advocates for the quality of life nationwide and around the world Reach their LGBT Elder Hotline at 877-360-LGBT (5428).
- AgeSmart Community Resources: Lunch and Learn for LBTQ+ people ages 50 and up on the second Tuesday of the month. Check the monthly calendar for the topic, and then enjoy a free lunch and make new friends.
- LGBT National Senior Hotline: If you many know an individual who wishes to talk with a friendly ear about their challenges and personal experiences this hotline provides a safe space to speak with trained peer-counselor volunteers about issues regarding isolation, relationship concerns, bullying, HIV/AIDS, and more. They’re reachable Monday-Friday from 1:00-10:00 p.m. CDT, and on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. CDT.
- Alzheimer’s Association: LGBTQ+ Community Resources for Dementia
Here at St. John’s Community Care we are a welcoming and valuable organization for all older adults, including LGBTQ+ people. Want to see more of what we’re doing in the community? You can always check out our Facebook page to learn more about our upcoming events. If you would like to connect with us directly, our number is 618-344-5008 or feel free to send us an email at info@stjohnscc.org.