As we celebrate Pride Month, many conversations focus on visibility, acceptance, and equality. But there is an important aging issue that often goes unnoticed:
Some LGBTQ+ older adults worry that they may need to hide who they are in order to receive safe, respectful care.
For many people, aging brings decisions about healthcare, home care services, assisted living communities, memory care, or long-term care. These transitions can be stressful for anyone. For LGBTQ+ older adults, they can also raise concerns about acceptance, discrimination, and whether their identity will be respected.
A Generation That Experienced Discrimination
Today’s LGBTQ+ older adults grew up during a very different time.
Many came of age when being openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender could result in discrimination, loss of employment, rejection by family members, or worse. These experiences can have a lasting impact on how comfortable someone feels accessing healthcare and aging services later in life.
According to SAGE’s Facts on LGBT Aging report, more than half of LGBT older adults report experiencing discrimination in employment or housing during their lifetime. Many have also experienced discrimination within healthcare settings.
These experiences don’t simply disappear with age.
The Fear of “Going Back Into the Closet”
One of the most striking findings in the report is that 34% of LGBT older adults worry about having to hide their identity in order to access senior housing.
Think about what that means.
Someone may avoid displaying photos of their spouse. They may choose not to talk about a lifelong partner. They may feel pressure to hide important parts of their life story simply to avoid uncomfortable conversations or potential discrimination.
No one should have to choose between receiving care and being themselves.
Why This Matters
Research shows that LGBTQ+ older adults often face additional challenges as they age.
They are:
• Twice as likely to live alone.
• Four times less likely to have children.
• More likely to experience social isolation.
• More likely to delay healthcare due to concerns about discrimination.
Many also rely on “chosen family”—close friends, partners, and support networks that may not fit traditional caregiving models.
As care needs increase, these factors can make navigating the healthcare and senior living systems even more challenging.
Creating Inclusive Aging Services
The good news is that awareness is growing.
In fact, 88% of LGBT older adults report they would feel more comfortable using long-term care services if staff were trained on the needs of LGBTQ+ older adults.
Creating welcoming environments doesn’t require special treatment. It requires person-centered care.
It means listening without assumptions.
It means respecting relationships.
It means recognizing that every person’s life story matters.
And it means ensuring that older adults feel safe sharing who they are.
How Care Management Can Help
At Together in Caring, we believe every older adult deserves dignity, respect, and individualized support.
Our care managers help older adults and families:
• Navigate senior living options
• Advocate during healthcare transitions
• Coordinate care among providers
• Support family caregivers
• Ensure personal values and preferences remain central to care planning
We know that aging is about more than medical needs. It’s about preserving quality of life, identity, relationships, and independence.
Aging With Pride
Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate resilience and progress. It is also a reminder that there is still work to be done to ensure every older adult feels welcomed, valued, and respected.
No one should have to go back into the closet to age safely.
Every older adult deserves the opportunity to age with dignity, authenticity, and pride.
About Together in Caring
Together in Caring provides geriatric care management and dementia education services, supporting older adults, families, and professionals across Upstate New York. The organization is dedicated to improving outcomes through compassionate, person-centered care and community-based education.
For more information, visit www.togetherincaring.com.
