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April 20, 2020 | Romance & Relationship | By Jason Reid
Remote and countryside settlements can be difficult for LGBT people, and retiring there can sometimes mean going back into the closet. Yes, it’s LGBT seniors living remotely and in countryside’s face many challenges of acceptance and sexual expression.
They have learned to overcome and navigate around discrimination without the support of the political and social networks that are common in big cities through ways such as
LGBT seniors have grown to be very resilient and have learned to overcome and navigate around discrimination without the help of the political and social networks that are common in the big cities. They have come out depression and isolation by accepting what is out there and facing it headstrong.
Most LGBT seniors fall into depression due to the challenges of acceptance and sexual expression. This has led to them picking up life-threatening habits like drug abuse and alcoholism.
Seniors in rural settlements have been educated and now engage in health-promoting behaviors. Many have discontinued such harmful behaviors and have begun engaging in activities that would maximize their quality of life.
Due to fear of discrimination and harassment, LGBT seniors often stay indoors. This keeps them isolated and makes them more reluctant to come out to their healthcare providers. They are also more likely to live alone and less likely to have children to care for them compared to their straight counterparts. They rely on their close and extensive network of friends that have become family.
Improving social networks has been one of the keys to LGBT seniors living in remote and countrysides overcoming challenges of acceptance and sexual expression. This has helped them come together to look out for each other and find solutions to whatever issues bothering their existence.
Social media outlets have also been used to show the rest of the world what’s happening in their various communities and helping to educate people on how to treat LGBT seniors and the consequences of their actions towards them.
LGBT seniors have been able to overcome challenges of acceptance and sexual expression because health workers in rural settlements and nursing homes are now being trained to better handle the needs of LGBT seniors.
It’s still a great challenge and there’s still more to do for seniors living in remote and countryside settlements, however, we must admonish the efforts they have put in thus far with the hope that they get the same attention and required help from the government and social services their counterparts in the big cities are getting.