Key facts
- Older LGBTQ+ individuals in England face challenges including poorer health, limited finances, and social isolation, according to a Centre for Ageing Better report.
- Concerns about homophobia and ageism lead some older LGBTQ+ people to hide their identity or delay seeking care.
- The LGBT Foundation is developing Kindred House, an LGBTQ+ social housing scheme for over-55s in Manchester.
- Kindred House will provide 80 apartments with 24/7 care staff trained in LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- The number of over-50s identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in the UK rose by about a third between 2019 and 2024.
Older members of the LGBTQ+ community in England are increasingly concerned about their identities being overlooked and facing discrimination when accessing care, according to a new report. Mindy Meleyal, a 75-year-old lesbian, shared that her identity is often presumed to be straight due to her age, and she has experienced instances of misgendering and insensitivity from healthcare staff.
The report by the Centre for Ageing Better indicates that this demographic often experiences poorer health, limited finances, and greater social isolation compared to the general older population. Without specialized support, they risk being forced "back into the closet" when seeking healthcare, with some delaying necessary treatment due to fears of homophobia.
Adam Porter from the LGBT Foundation highlighted that older LGBTQ+ individuals sometimes hide personal items or symbols of their identity, such as wedding photos or trans flags, when carers visit their homes or when moving into care environments. He has heard distressing accounts of individuals being offered prayers to change their sexuality.
In response to these challenges, initiatives like Kindred House are being developed. This project in Manchester, a collaboration with the local council, will provide 80 self-contained apartments for over-55s, with a 24/7 care team trained in LGBTQ+ inclusion. Similar projects exist internationally, and the UK has seen the opening of Tonic, London's first LGBTQ+ retirement home.
Research manager Sarah Wilkinson noted that older LGBTQ+ people face a "lifetime of homophobia and transphobia" compounded by ageism. The report also points out that older LGBTQ+ individuals are less likely to have children and may be estranged from their families, leading to a greater likelihood of living alone. For instance, over half of gay and bisexual men aged 65 and above live alone, compared to less than a quarter of heterosexual men.
Norman Goodman, who came out as bisexual in his late 60s, relies on his partner Tony and a group of friends as his "chosen family" for support. However, he worries about potential discrimination in formal care settings, citing "horror stories" of gay people being mistreated in nursing homes.
The number of over-50s identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in the UK has increased by about a third between 2019 and 2024, reaching nearly 460,000. This growing demographic is projected to increase further, intensifying the demand for specialized services and training in care settings.