London Borough of Barnet LGBT Conference
The London Borough of Barnet is hosting a half-day event on Monday 22nd March from 12.30 - 4.30pm. Entitled 'Get Aware!' the aim is to raise awareness of the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people when using social care services.
There will be an emphasis on LGBT carers and LGBT people with dementia.
Further details from dawn.rowe@barnet.gov.uk or call 020 8359 4579
Information about lesbian, gay and bisexual ageing
The following information from the Age Concern website highlights the distinctive needs of older LGB's and raises questions about the possible incidence of dementia within our community:-
There is a growing body of research in the US that is allowing us to compare older lesbians,gay men and bisexuals with the their heterosexual counterparts. They point to some key differences that have profound implications for service providers.
In research conducted by the Brookdale Center on Aging in New York, for example, it was found that older LGBs have significantly diminished support networks when compared to the general older population. Brookdale found that:
up to 75% of older LGBs live alone (compare to less than 33% in the general older population
90% have no children (compared to less than 20% in the general older population)
80% age as single people, without a life partner or 'significant other' (compared to less that 40% in the general older population)
When compared to their heterosexual counterparts, therefore, older LGBs are:-
2.5 times as likely to live alone
twice as likely to age as a single person
4.5 times as likely to have no children to call upon in times of need
This translates into a lack of traditional support networks that are not replaced by the strength of other close friendships or the size of informal support networks within the LGB community, with the result that:
20% of older LGBs indicate they have no one to call on in a time of crisis or difficulty - a rate up to 10 times highter than that seen in the general older population.
This means that older LGB are much more reliant on and have a much greater need for professional services and formal support systems in old age than is the case with their heterosexual counterparts. However other studies in the US have shown that LGB do not access the programmes and services they need. In fact older LGBs are 5 times less likely to acceess services for older people than is the case in the general older population, because they fear discrimination, homophobia and ignorance and that they will have to hide their sexuality.
The London Borough of Barnet is hosting a half-day event on Monday 22nd March from 12.30 - 4.30pm. Entitled 'Get Aware!' the aim is to raise awareness of the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people when using social care services.
There will be an emphasis on LGBT carers and LGBT people with dementia.
Further details from dawn.rowe@barnet.gov.uk or call 020 8359 4579
Information about lesbian, gay and bisexual ageing
The following information from the Age Concern website highlights the distinctive needs of older LGB's and raises questions about the possible incidence of dementia within our community:-
There is a growing body of research in the US that is allowing us to compare older lesbians,gay men and bisexuals with the their heterosexual counterparts. They point to some key differences that have profound implications for service providers.
In research conducted by the Brookdale Center on Aging in New York, for example, it was found that older LGBs have significantly diminished support networks when compared to the general older population. Brookdale found that:
up to 75% of older LGBs live alone (compare to less than 33% in the general older population
90% have no children (compared to less than 20% in the general older population)
80% age as single people, without a life partner or 'significant other' (compared to less that 40% in the general older population)
When compared to their heterosexual counterparts, therefore, older LGBs are:-
2.5 times as likely to live alone
twice as likely to age as a single person
4.5 times as likely to have no children to call upon in times of need
This translates into a lack of traditional support networks that are not replaced by the strength of other close friendships or the size of informal support networks within the LGB community, with the result that:
20% of older LGBs indicate they have no one to call on in a time of crisis or difficulty - a rate up to 10 times highter than that seen in the general older population.
This means that older LGB are much more reliant on and have a much greater need for professional services and formal support systems in old age than is the case with their heterosexual counterparts. However other studies in the US have shown that LGB do not access the programmes and services they need. In fact older LGBs are 5 times less likely to acceess services for older people than is the case in the general older population, because they fear discrimination, homophobia and ignorance and that they will have to hide their sexuality.