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Handbook of LGBT Elders pp 657–669Cite as

Trends, Implications, and Future Directions for Policy, Practice, and Research on LGBT Elders

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Abstract

LGBT elders remain nearly invisible to advocates, researchers, educators, practitioners, administrators, and policy makers. The topics of sexual orientation and gender identity are rarely addressed in health and human service delivery or educational degree programs, and their relevance to LGBT elders is further marginalized or omitted from these venues. In this chapter, we identify trends and anticipate future directions and implications for policy practice and research on LGBT elders. This chapter serves simultaneously as a capstone of the previous 34 chapters and as a roadmap for advancing a research and service delivery agenda to address the challenges of LGBT elders.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Pamela B. Teaster

  2. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Debra A. Harley

Authors
  1. Pamela B. Teaster
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  2. Debra A. Harley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pamela B. Teaster .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Debra A. Harley

  2. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Pamela B. Teaster

Appendices

Resources

Center for Population Research in LGBT Health: www.lgbtpopulationcenter.org

LGBT Aging Project: www.lgbtagingproject.org

Movement Advancement Project (MAP): www.lgbtmap.org

Public Policy & Aging Report: www.agingsociety.org

Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders (SAGE): www.sageusa.org

The Fenway Institute: www.thefenwayinstitute.org

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: http://thetaskforce.or13

Learning Exercises

Self-Check Questions

  1. 1.

    What are some of the commonalities and difference across age cohorts of LGBT persons?

  2. 2.

    What is one of the major challenges across disciplines to an interdisciplinary approach to addressing issues relevant to LGBT elders?

  3. 3.

    How can the Affordable Care Act be improved to address broader LGBT healthcare discrimination?

  4. 4.

    What are the major contributing factors to limited research on LGBT elders?

  5. 5.

    What concerns have LGBT elders identified as the most important?

Experiential Exercises

  1. 1.

    Imagine that you have the ability to develop or influence policy pertaining to LGBT elders. Select a specific area (e.g., health care, housing, employment) and outline issues that need to be addressed, specify potential policy/solutions, and how you would implement them.

  2. 2.

    Research an LGBT elder who has influenced policy on older LGBT adults. How has he or she been able to establish or change current policies?

Multiple-Choice Questions

  1. 1.

    Which type of approach to collaboration occurs when experts or practitioners operate outside their disciplines or specialty?

    1. (a)

      Interdisciplinary

    2. (b)

      Transdisciplinary

    3. (c)

      Multidisciplinary

    4. (d)

      Intradisciplinary

  2. 2.

    The Affordable Care Act has been criticized for failure to do which of the following for LGBT persons?

    1. (a)

      Ensure access to health care

    2. (b)

      Promote life care planning

    3. (c)

      Ensure quality of care

    4. (d)

      Promote a full spectrum of services

  3. 3.

    In addition to health disparities, which of the following may be a reason for disparities between LGBT and non-LGBT elders?

    1. (a)

      LGBT elders place high value on self-sufficiency

    2. (b)

      Non-LGBT elders are able to better handle criticism from family members

    3. (c)

      LGBT elders are able to use their domestic partners’ health insurance

    4. (d)

      Unmarried non-LGBT elders are able to use their domestic partners’ health insurance

  4. 4.

    Which of the following legislation prohibits discrimination bases on sex, sex stereotyping, and gender identity?

    1. (a)

      Americans with Disabilities Act

    2. (b)

      Civil Rights Act

    3. (c)

      Affordable Care Act

    4. (d)

      Medicare

  5. 5.

    Which of the following is a logical reason to gather data on sexual orientation and sexual identity?

    1. (a)

      Increases ability to screen, detect, and prevent conditions more common in LGBT persons

    2. (b)

      Helps develop a better understanding of patients’ lives

    3. (c)

      Allows comparison of patient outcomes with national survey samples of LGBT person

    4. (d)

      All of the above

    5. (e)

      None of the above

  6. 6.

    Which of the following is the intended purpose of electronic health records?

    1. (a)

      Reduce duplication

    2. (b)

      Allow clinician to share information

    3. (c)

      Improve quality of care

    4. (d)

      All of the above

    5. (e)

      None of the above

Key

  • 1-b

  • 2-c

  • 3-a

  • 4-c

  • 5-d

  • 6-d

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Teaster, P.B., Harley, D.A. (2016). Trends, Implications, and Future Directions for Policy, Practice, and Research on LGBT Elders. In: Harley, D., Teaster, P. (eds) Handbook of LGBT Elders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03623-6_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03623-6_35

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-03622-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-03623-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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