Nursing homes unprepared to nurture lesbian and gay elders

Thanks to radio journalist Jacqueline Froelich, KAUF National Public Radio has been the only mainstream media outlet in Arkansas to report on the American Family Association's anti-gay video about Eureka Springs, «They're Coming to Your Town.» Here's a link to her KUAF podcast on the subject:

Ozarks at Large: The American Family Association's take on Eureka Springs

This week on her Ozarks at Large program, she breaks more new ground, reporting on the dilemma of elder gays and lesbians facing the prospect of residing in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes. Here's the podcast link:

Ozarks at Large: The Final Installment of our Elder Mental Health Series

«Those in their 80s and 90s were forced to endure an era where homosexuality was considered both a mental illness and criminal,» Froelich says. «And for those in long-term health facilities, things may only get worse.»

Elder gays and lesbians are often forced to revert to living closeted lives again in their last years in order to avoid ridicule and sub-standard care in institutional settings.

«By the time they enter a nursing home, they really need a tremendous amount of assistance,» Lisa Krinsky, who directs a pioneering LGBT aging project in Boston, tells Froelich. «So the fear that those (places) may not be respectful, may not attend to you in a timely manner or (may) downright mistreat or abuse you is a fear that many older LGBT folks have.»

Dr. Jerry Mallot, medical director for UAMS Senior Health Center, tells Froelich long-term care facilities need to be better informed about gay culture. Many aged gays and lesbians, he says, «are reluctant to come out to me, even though I will ask them and even share with them that I'm gay . . . They are still reluctant to let anyone know about their situation.»

In her opening, Froelich notes that there are at least two and a half million gay and lesbian Americans who are now 55 and older. Inevitably, many of them--that is, many of us--will have to confront the prospect of entering long-term care facilities that are less than hospitable environments for living out our golden years.

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