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2016 Issue 3 may/jun - Focus Mid-South magazine

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health+wellness<br />

SENIOR LGBT<br />

OF COLOR<br />

BY THE NUMBERS<br />

HEALTH, RACIAL DISPARITIES AND AGING<br />

OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES, our country will grow increasingly older and more diverse. LGBT elders of<br />

color are an important part of this demographic shift—yet the available research, highlighted in the report Health<br />

Equity and LGBT Elders of Color, shows that they often face economic insecurity and heightened health disparities<br />

while remaining largely invisible in public policy discussions on aging.<br />

The number and diversity of people age 65+ in the U.S. is growing by leaps and bounds.<br />

10,000 Americans<br />

will turn 65 every day<br />

between now and 2030.<br />

In 2050, the number of people age 65+ will reach 88.5<br />

million people, with elders of color growing from 20% to<br />

40% of this population.<br />

LGBT elders of color experience more major health disparities<br />

Among LGBT elders, aged 50+<br />

39% have seriously thought of suicide,<br />

and 31% report depression.<br />

47% have a disability.<br />

38% of lesbians do not report receiving regular cervical<br />

cancer screenings leading to a much higher risk<br />

of cervical cancer.<br />

12% have reported drug use.<br />

One quarter of transgender elders age 50+ are in poor<br />

health, and 22% could not afford to see a doctor.<br />

LGBT elders of color are at heightened risk of economic insecurity.<br />

More lesbians and gay men live in poverty than their<br />

heterosexual counterparts—a disparity that persists<br />

as they age—and transgender people are 4X more likely<br />

to live in poverty than the general population.<br />

Many elders of color lack sufficient income to sustain them throughout their<br />

retirement years, and face higher poverty rates than White elders.<br />

Among LGBT elders of color<br />

Black people are 2X, and Latino people are about 1.5X more<br />

likely, than their white counterparts, to have Alzheimer’s and<br />

other dementias.<br />

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islander<br />

people are living with the hepatitis B virus.<br />

American Indian/Alaska Native people have higher rates of heart<br />

disease and diabetes than other racial/ethnic groups.<br />

Approximately 30% of all Latinos lack health insurance and a<br />

regular source of health care.<br />

MORE THAN ONE IN TEN LGBT PEOPLE AGE 50+<br />

have been denied healthcare or provided inferior care.<br />

Administration on Aging. (2011). Population Projections by Race and Hispanic<br />

Origin for Persons 65 and older: 2000 to 2050 [Data file].<br />

Administration on Aging. A statistical profile of American Indian and Native<br />

Alaskan Elderly. Retrieved from: http://www.aoa.gov/Aging_Statistics/minority_<br />

aging/Facts-on-AlNA-Elderly2008-plain_format.aspx<br />

Administration on Aging. A statistical profile of Asian older Americans aged 65+.<br />

Retrieved from:http://www.acl.gov/NewsRoom/Publications/pdf/Stat_Profile_<br />

Asian_Aged_65.pdf<br />

Administration on Aging. A statistical profile of Black older Americans aged 65+.<br />

Retrieved from: http://www.acl.gov/NewsRoom/Publications/pdf/Stat_Profile_<br />

Black_Aged_65.pdf<br />

Administration on Aging. A statistical profile of Older Hispanics. Retrieved from:<br />

http://www.acl.gov/NewsRoom/Publications/pdf/Stat_Profile_hispanic_<br />

Aged_65.pdf<br />

Administration on Aging. (2012) Diversity: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and<br />

transgender. Retrieved from: http://www.aoa.gov/AoA_programs/Tools_<br />

Resources/diversity.aspx#LGBT<br />

Alzheimer’s Association. 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.<br />

Retrieved from: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp<br />

American Diabetes Association. (2013) Native American Programs. Retrieved<br />

from: http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/native-Americanprograms<br />

Diverse Elders Coalition and Insight Center for Community Economic<br />

Development. (2011)<br />

Securing Our Future: Advancing Economic Security for Diverse Elders.<br />

Fredriksen-Goldsen. K. I., Kim. H.-J., Emlet. C. A.. Muraco. A., Erosheva, E.<br />

A., Hoy-Ellis. C. P., Goldsen, J., Petry. H. (2011). The Aging and Health Report:<br />

Disparities and Resilience among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender<br />

Older Adults. Seattle: Institute for Multigenerational Health.<br />

Grant, J. M. Mottet L. A. & Tanis, J. (2011) Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of<br />

the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Executive Summary. National<br />

Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.<br />

In, S., Chang. E., and So. S. Why we should routinely screen Asian American<br />

adults for hepatitis b: A cross-sectional study of Asians in California.<br />

Hepatology. 46:4, 2007.<br />

Krehely, J. (2009) How to close the LGBT health disparities gap. Center<br />

for American Progress. Retrieved from: http://www.Americanprogress.org/<br />

issues/2009/12/pdf/lgbt_health_disparities_race.pdf<br />

Movement Advancement Project, SAGE and Center for American Progress.<br />

(Sept. 2010)<br />

LGBT Older Adults and Health Disparities <strong>Issue</strong> Brief. Retrieved from:<br />

www.sageusa.org.<br />

National Hispanic Council on Aging. (2013) The status of hispanic older adults<br />

[PowerPoint presentation].<br />

Pew Research Center (December 2010) Baby boomers retire. Retrieved from:<br />

http://www.pewresearch.org/daiIy-number/baby-boomers-retire<br />

The Office of Minority Health. (2012) Heart Disease and American Indians/<br />

Alaska Natives. Retrieved from: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.<br />

aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=52&ID=3025<br />

Rice. T. Cervical cancer in elder black lesbian and bisexual women. American<br />

Society on Aging. Retrieved from: http://www.asaging.org/blog/cervical-cancerelder-black-lesbian-and-bisexual-women<br />

The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.<br />

(February 2011) LGBT San Diego’s Trailblazing Generation: Housing Related<br />

Needs of LGBT Seniors<br />

Tribal Court Clearinghouse: A Project of the Tribal Law and Policy Institute.<br />

Elder Abuse. Retrieved from: http://www.tribal-institute.org/lists/elder.htm<br />

Wheary. J., Meschede, T., Shapiro, T. M.. & Sullivan, L. (2010). Living longer on<br />

less: Severe financial insecurity among African-American and latino seniors.<br />

New York, NY: Demos.<br />

The Family <strong>Issue</strong> / MAY+JUN <strong>2016</strong> / www.focusmidsouth.com / Page 37

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