The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41039

Roe Ann Roberts, PhD MPH¹, Nick Jackson, PhD², Mike Johnson, MS³, and Clarissa McCall². (1) Health and Public Administration Programs, Midwestern State University, 3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308, (2) Department of Counseling, Educational and Developmental Psychology, Eastern Washington University, 135 Martin Hall, Cheney, WA 99004, (509) 359-4302, roeanna@rocketmail.com, (3) Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies, Eastern Washington University, C/O R. Roberts N 668 Riverpoint Blvd MS#3, Spokane, WA 99201

This study examines health-related attitudes and experiences of older gays (39.2%), lesbians (51.9%), bisexual females (3.7%) bisexual males (2.5%) and transgender individuals (2.5%). The mean respondent age was 53.05 with a SD of 10.06 years and ages ranged from 34 to 82. 83.5% identified themselves as Caucasian, 6.3% as African-American, 5.1% as Asian, 3.8% as Native American and 1.2% as other. The mean respondent salary was $41,280 and the mode was $45,000. 26.6% of the respondents were retired and 10.1% were considering entering a retirement facility. Education levels ranged from high school (15.2%), bachelor's degree (48.1%) and graduate school (36.7%). Half of the respondents had life partners, and 46.2% of them had durable power of attorney arrangements with their partners. The longer the relationship the more likely there was a durable power of attorney (p=.07) Openness about sexual orientation with primary care physicians (PCP) was not impacted by the respondents' age nor their fears about discrimination in long-term care facilities (LTC). However, a lack of openness resulted in a greater than expected likelihood that the respondent suspected discrimination exists in LTC facilities. Respondents who had experienced discrimination from health care professionals were more likely to expect to have to go back into the closet if they entered a LTC (p=.085), but no relationship existed between a history of discrimination and suspicion of discrimination in LTC. These results suggest the need for greater communication and training to address the legal and ethical challenges facing aging homosexuals, their PCPs and LTC facilities.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding the degree of openness of aging homosexuals with health care professionals
• Learning about LGBT experiences of discrimination from health care professionals
• Recognizing the number of partners with durable power of attorney and the legal implications of durable power of attorney in long term care facilities
• Recognizing aging LGBT fears of discrimination in long term care facilities
• Understanding some of the psychological and social implications of these fears and their health related implications
• Discuss communication and training approaches designed to decrease fears and increase openness with health professionals in LTC environments.

Keywords: Aging, Gay

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.