Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Conceptualizations of family by older gay men
- Authors:
- MURACO Anna, LEBLANCE Allen J., RUSSELL Stephen T.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 20(1/2), 2008, pp.69-90.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Definitions of family have traditionally been heterosexually based, and this study draws on the family life course perspective to explore how gay men define and understand family. It is based on interviews conducted in the late 1990s with gay men over the age of 50 who talked about their family relationships and provided diverse definitions of family. Biological ties and closeness were two consistent themes in defining both positive and negative family relationships, while narratives of coming out were central to discussions of current relationships with parents and children. The findings indicate that sexual orientation influences life trajectories and transitions, and point to useful avenues for further research on contemporary family life. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Growing old as a gay man: how life has changed for the gay liberation generation
- Authors:
- LYONS Anthony, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 35(10), 2015, pp.2229-2250.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Men in the gay liberation generation are approaching or entering older age. Being at the forefront of gay rights movements since the 1970s and 1980s, this generation has experienced dramatic changes in gay life. The present study aimed to provide a greater understanding of this generation by examining some of the ways these men perceive their changing lives. Participants included 439 Australian gay-identified men aged 50 years and older who completed an online survey of their health and wellbeing. These men gave unrestricted open-ended responses to a question on how life had changed for them as a gay man since being aged in their twenties. Responses were analysed qualitatively using a thematic analysis approach to identify main themes. Participants expressed many positive changes to their lives, including greater public- and self-acceptance of their sexuality, greater confidence and self-esteem, and more freedom for same-sex relationships. However, some men expressed a loss of gay community compared to their younger years and a perception that the younger generation under-appreciated the struggles they had endured. Age- and HIV-related stigma from within the gay community, as well as a loss of sexual attractiveness, also emerged as concerns for some participants. These findings may assist researchers, health professionals and aged care services to further understand the needs and experiences of this older generation of gay men. (Edited publisher abstract)
Aging with HIV: historical and intra-community differences in experience of aging with HIV
- Authors:
- ROBINSON Wallace A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 20(1/2), 2008, pp.111-128.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Older gay men with HIV AIDS face a range of health issues associated with ageing, long term HIV infection and the side effects of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy. They may also face additional marginalisation by being both gay and living with a stigmatised disease. This paper presents findings from a study of a long running HIV support group, and explores how feelings of loss and the struggle to maintain community affect long term survivors and other older HIV-positive gay men. The different challenges facing older men who have contracted HIV early and late are identified. While both struggle with a vision of what life might have been without HIV, both also celebrate the shared community that their plight has enabled.
Imagined futures and communities: older lesbian and gay people’s narratives on health and aged care
- Author:
- HUGHES Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 20(1/2), 2008, pp.167-186.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The experiences of older lesbian and gay men’s experiences and expectations of Australian health and aged care service delivery are explored on the basis of 14 in-depth interviews that were analysed according to principles of narrative research. This included an analysis of the socio-linguistic properties of narratives as well as a wider socio-cultural analysis of the meanings expressed by them. The themes that emerged focused on personal identities and imagined communities (i.e. the gay community, the retirement community), the real neighbourhoods in which participants lived, experiences with heath and care services, experiences with gay and lesbian community groups and organisations, and experiences with friendship networks. The findings suggest a complex relationship between identity and community in the lives of older lesbians and gay men. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Caregiving and care receiving among older lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults
- Authors:
- GROSSMAN Arnold H., D’AUGELLI Anthony R., DRAGOWSKI Eliza A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 18(3/4), November 2007, pp.15-38.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper reports on a survey of the giving and receiving of care, and the willingness to provide care, among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 40-85 (average age 60) recruited from community groups. More than a third reported receiving care from people other than health care providers during the previous five years, and more than two-thirds provided care to other LGB adults. Those who had provided care were more likely than non-caregivers to provide care in the future. The gender and sexual orientation of the recipients of future care affected the willingness to provide care, as did their educational level and coping style. Participants who were willing to provide care for older LGB adults perceived such experiences to be less burdensome and more rewarding than did those who were unwilling to provide care. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Long-term planning and decision-making among midlife and older gay men and lesbians
- Authors:
- HASH Kristina M., NETTING F. Ellen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life and Palliative Care, 3(2), November 2007, pp.59-77.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
This qualitative study is based on in-depth interviews with ten gay men and nine lesbians aged 50-77 (average 60) who reported on their long term planning and decision making processes. All but one was a ‘post-caregiver’ whose partner had died or relocated. Fifteen reported that their partners had advance directives, and the majority had made other advance provision while a couple through wills, powers of attorney, detailed financial planning and other measures. This was often done to make the couple’s wishes clear and to forestall challenges from the frailer partner’s family. The majority of the participants had health care advance directives for themselves but were still uncertain or fearful about what would happen if they needed care. Concerns were expressed about informal family dynamics and interactions with formal systems, as well as financial and ownership issues. The authors conclude that it is important for social workers to intervene across individual, organisational and community levels in order to advocate for the needs of older gay men and lesbian clients. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Gay and grey: lifting the lid on sexuality and ageing
- Author:
- FANNIN Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Working with Older People, 10(4), December 2006, pp.31-34.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In 2006, Bournemouth charity, Help and Care, published the findings of its three-year survey of older lesbians and gay men. For the project nearly 100 questionnaires were completed and 30 face-to-face interviews were conducted. This article looks at some of the key findings in the following themes: sexuality and coming out; relationships and social networks; living in the community; social care and health; and getting older.
Signposts of aging: The transitions to later life of a sample of older gay men
- Author:
- LEE Adrian
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing International, 29(4), 2004, pp.368-384.
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Place of publication:
- New York
Using data generated from interviews with 15 homosexual men aged 57-84 from the United Kingdom, the paper argues that traditionally recognized perceptions of aging and transitions from middle to old age are not necessarily reliable indicators of gay men's experiences. The signposts to aging discussed so far do not account for varied personal characteristics and backgrounds. The framework of aging reminders developed by Karp (2000)1 is shown to be relevant to the perceptions of aging included in the data. However it is argued that these reminders are not necessarily evident just to people in their fifties, and that they may also be experienced in different ways. The paper develops Karp's model, deconstructing the reminders he introduced to show the variety of ages at which they become evident, the heteronormativity of the existing framework and how this can be reduced, the way reminders inter-connect, and how those relating to the body can usefully be subdivided to elucidate the number of different ways the body can be experienced, highlighting the transition to later life.
You don't have to be young
- Author:
- McGOVEN Clare
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 14.9.00, 2000, p.29.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
It is a common belief, even among HIV and Aids organisations, that older people are asexual. Describes an initiative in London that combated this stereotype and canvassed the opinions of older people with HIV about the services they receive and how they could be improved.
Realities and hopes for older gay males
- Author:
- WHITFORD Gary S.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 6(1), 1997, pp.79-95.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article seeks to add to the current body of knowledge regarding gay males and to go beyond the examination of stereotypes. In addition to describing the lives of gay men over the age of 50 living in the Midwest, a population location seldom investigated, this article examines the problems these men experience and the resources they bring with them into the ageing process. Special attention is paid to the older gay man's personal and social life and its relationship to the experience of ageing. Information is also presented about these men's need for support from organisations providing social activities and programmes.