A new report from the Centre for Ageing Better indicates that older LGBTQ+ people in England often experience poorer health, more limited finances, and greater social isolation than their heterosexual peers. The report warns that without specialist support, this demographic could be compelled to conceal their identity when accessing care, potentially delaying necessary treatment due to fears of homophobia.
Adam Porter, from the LGBT Foundation charity, described instances where older community members hide aspects of their identity, such as wedding photos, when carers visit or when moving into care environments. He cited stories of carers offering to "pray for them" regarding their sexuality.
The report also found that older LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to have children and are more prone to family estrangement. Over half of gay and bisexual men aged 65 and above live alone, significantly more than heterosexual men of the same age. Similarly, bisexual women aged 50 to 64 are twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to live alone.
Specialist housing initiatives are emerging to address these challenges. Kindred House, an LGBTQ+ social housing scheme for over-55s, is set to open in Manchester next year, offering 80 self-contained apartments with a 24/7 care team trained in LGBTQ+ inclusion. London's Tonic, the UK's first LGBTQ+ retirement home, opened in 2021 and provides 19 apartments.