Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges & Opportunities
What are you most concerned about as you think about aging alone?
What are you most hopeful for in your future?
Why do more LGBTQ+ folx face aging alone?
Statistics show that LGBTQ+ older adults tend to have a shrinking social network as we age. Some develop increased fears of disclosing their LGBTQ+ identity and facing discrimination based on sexual or gender identity when accessing housing and supportive programs.
Loneliness is bad for your health.
Social isolation significantly increases a person's risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Social isolation is associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.
Loneliness is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
Other issues with aging alone include fraud, physical danger, and all sorts of risks that I've seen.
Here's The Tea: All Eyes On The Lookout For Scams
My client Bernie was the victim many times over of financial fraud.
He got involved in a work-at-home scam, and I found out about it. He lost $9,000. We got it back for him, but it was because of that media coverage. He also had all of these fake check scams, and so I could see he was getting these fake checks. And it's a scam. If you cash them, the bank may honor them. Then later on, it bounces, and you have to replace that money, and that's the money that you're really out.
There are all sorts of scams out there. Even if you think you're sharp, that you're aware of what's going on, even somebody who is pretty sophisticated and aware can easily get scammed.
If you have a second set of eyes, if you're with somebody, if you talk to somebody, you may be able to avoid getting victimized by some sort of fraud. That's another reason to try to avoid aging alone.
You may be thinking, after all of these concerning statistics and stories, please tell me something good!
There's been monumental progress for the LGBTQ+ community over my lifetime. Anyone older than age 60 was born at a time when consensual same-sex activity was illegal in every state. Now we have same-sex marriage in every state, and there's power in numbers.
Currently, there are more than 2.7 million LGBTQ+ adults aged over 50. We have increasing numbers of older adults who are demanding more inclusion and diversity within the aging support and healthcare environments. As of October 2022, due to the CARE Act, all state aging plans must address LGBTQ+ and HIV issues and concerns.
Finally, there's an increasing emphasis on cultural competency and LGBTQ+-focused living arrangements in assisted living and long-term care facilities.
Additional Resources:
Scam Victim Loses $370,000 But Wants to Keep Giving (NBC Miami story with David Treece)
Identity Theft: A Recovery Plan (Publication of the Federal Trade Commission)