Discuss gay and lesbian partnerships in late adulthood. What unique challenges do they face?
What will be an ideal response?
Most older gays and lesbians in long-term partnerships report happy, highly fulfilling relationships, pointing to their partner as their most important source of social support. Compared with gay and lesbian seniors who live alone, couples rate their physical and mental health more favorably. A lifetime of effective coping with an oppressive social environment may have strengthened homosexuals' skill at dealing with late-life physical and social changes, thereby contributing to a satisfying partnership. And changing social conditions, including the greater ease with which younger generations embrace their sexual minority identities and "come out," may have encouraged more older adults to do the same, with benefits for their well-being. Also, greater gender-role flexibility enables gay and lesbian couples to adapt easily to sharing household tasks following retirement.
Nevertheless, because of continuing prejudice, aging gays and lesbians face unique challenges. Health-care systems are often unresponsive to their unique needs. And where gay and lesbian unions are not legally recognized, if one partner becomes frail or ill, the other may not be welcome in hospitals or nursing homes or be allowed to participate in health-care decisions. These circumstances can make late-life declines and losses especially painful.
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