According to Cannon, Shukla & Vanderbilt (2017), in the US alone, the LGBT population aged 65 years and above are likely to reach six million by 2030. The aged LGBT communities are faced with unique healthcare needs and numerous health disparities. In that sense, this population is in need of end-of-life care and as such, they risk being isolated and marginalized at a time when they need dire support. The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging feels that, an urgent discussion is needed to determine how the distinct end-of-life care needs will be met. In the following discussion, the focus is on the way various literatures have addressed this issues.
Cannon, Shukla & Vanderbilt (2017) deducts that, aged LGBT individuals face significant health issues related to old age. In a study that analyzed accessibility of care and healthcare outcomes, it was revealed that aged LGBT populations experience poor mental health, risks of disability, and increased substance abuse. According to Cannon, Shukla & Vanderbilt (2017), older lesbian females are likely to develop cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndromes. The research also indicates that, aged transgender are at risk of contracting depression, disability, poor physical health, and other related issues than their non-transgender counterparts. Notably, whenever an aged person facing their final days experience depression and isolation, is denied aging services and care, they are likely to die faster.
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In their article, Kcomt & Gorey (2017) observe that, aged LGBT face greater risk of experiencing mental breakdown, and disability compared to the heterosexual. On the same note, they face challenges of accessing special healthcare. A detailed report released in 2011 indicated that, most aged LGBT had not yet revealed their sexual orientation to the people offering them care. The same report deducted that, most aged LGBT found themselves on a hard place because the society is against this population, and as such, they face intense stigmatization. According to Kcomt & Gorey (2017), the study also showed that, majority of the aged LGBT continue to face victimization owing to their gender identity or sexual orientation. In that sense, the situation continues to get worse.
Whenever aged LGBT are forced by circumstances to conceal their identities, they end up missing out significant end of life care aspects. Firstly, a life review is denied, and this therapeutic process is significant in bringing together memories useful to the individuals and people close to them in shaping their personal approach to life and in enabling them feel comfortable in their final days on earth (Kcomt & Gorey, 2017). Expectedly, caregivers, health care experts and close people to the aged LGBT ought to provide a satisfactory end of life review by encouraging them to share their life goals and memories without fear of discrimination. In addition, the caregivers and loved ones should assist the aged LGBT to codify healthcare proxy, besides assisting them to access legal protection (Cannon, Shukla & Vanderbilt, 2017). Lastly, the people offering end of life care should ensure that the patients are guaranteed a decent burial that will ensure all the lingering controversies are sorted. All the afore-mentioned can only be possible if the aged LGBT are allowed to open up significant parts of their life without fear of discrimination (Cannon, Shukla & Vanderbilt, 2017).
In overall, LGBT aging populations are in dire need of end-of-life care considering they suffer from depression, stigmatization, and they even stand a higher risk of getting disabled. The caregivers and loved ones should create an enabling environment for them to open up their past, and at the end of it, guarantee them a decent burial.
References
Cannon, S. M., Shukla, V., & Vanderbilt, A. A. (2017). Addressing the healthcare needs of older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender patients in medical school curricula: a call to action. Medical Education Online , 22(1), 1320933. http://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2017.1320933
Kcomt, L. & Gorey, K. M. (2017). End-of-Life Preparations among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Integrative Review of Prevalent Behaviors. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care. Volume 13, Issue 4
