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