Aging as an LGBTQ+ person comes with challenges, and living with HIV adds another layer of difficulty.
Discrimination, isolation and roadblocks to accessing care can turn everyday life into an uphill battle. On National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (September 18) – and every day – Cleveland’s Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP) wants the community to know there’s a place where they can get the care they deserve—without judgment.
‘There’s still stigma’ “LGBTQ+ elders are twice as likely to live alone and four times less likely to have children compared to their heterosexual peers,” says Brittani Flory, HIV prevention nurse at NFP. “The lack of traditional support networks often leads to isolation, making it harder to access care.” LGBTQ+ older adults are also much less likely to use services like senior centers or meal programs because they fear discrimination, according to a report by SAGE, a national organization addressing issues related to LGBTQ+ aging. […]
Click here to view the full piece. This story was originally published by The Good Men Project on October 19, 2024.
