Neighbor News
The diverse needs of an ageing population
How equipped are we to meet the needs of the diverse elder community?
Pride has arrived, and this summer marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. For those of us who have lived through some or all of those 50 years, we have witnessed many changes, and many for the better. But as our society grows older, it troubles me when I read that “9 out of 10 LGBT people feared discrimination in care settings if providers knew their sexual orientation or gender identity” (Sage USA). On top of that, the US Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that it intends to issue a rule protecting health care providers who “refuse to treat LGBTQ people” on the basis of “the providers’ religious or moral objections” (Lambda Legal). This will have a particular impact on elder members of the LGBTQIA+ community, because a significant number of elder care homes are run by religious organizations.
We have an ageing population, and age brings the stress of managing challenges to our physical and mental health, bereavement, bullying, financial constraints, career changes, and the possibility of moving home. That would be demanding enough. But LGBTQIA+ elders also have to endure discrimination (overt and covert): 13.1% of LGBTQ individuals have experienced at least one hate crime, and 86% of transgender individuals reported sexual / physical assault.
In a heartbreaking case, Marsha Wetzel was living in a senior housing facility when her partner of 30 years died of colon cancer. Marsha became upset because her late partner’s relatives would not drive her to the funeral, and at this point she alleges that she experienced homophobic bullying and violence at the senior housing facility. In situations like this, a place of worship can make or break a person. Research has shown that religion/spirituality offers the chance to lower stress levels (Koenig, H. G., & Cohen, H. J.). However, places of worship can also be a place of ‘spiritual bullying’, where someone is made to feel ‘rejected, ostracized, or punished by their religious’ communities as a result of their identity (Jonathan H. Ohrt, Philip B. Clarke, Abigail H. Conley).
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As we celebrate Pride this summer, and we mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, we need to take stock of how places of worship can avoid structural oppression of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The obvious gesture is a public condemnation of the damaging practice of ‘conversion therapy’. Another gesture would be to outwardly condemn the phrase ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’.
Chris Warren-Dickins LLB MA LPC, Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, NJ 07450
