Proud to support our older neighbours

Please note: this post is 139 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

“Gay people are more likely to live alone when they are older… and are more likely to be without children.” (Stonewall.org.uk)

Today marks the first day of this year’s Gay Pride in London, an event that started in 1972 to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on 1969 in New York. The festival serves as a reminder of how far we have come in terms of equality, but also of the challenges lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people continue to face.

Older lesbian, gay and bisexual people face their own unique challenges, highlighted by the 2011 Stonewall report Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Later Life. Isolation is a very real problem for older people from all walks of life, but for older lesbian, gay and bisexual people it can be even more acute:

• gay and bisexual older men are three times as likely to be single than their heterosexual counterparts;
• gay and lesbian older people are more likely to live alone – 41% of lesbian, gay and bisexual older people live alone compared with 28% of heterosexual people;
• they are less likely to have children – just over one in four older gay men have children and a half of older lesbians have children compared with almost nine in ten older heterosexual men and women;
• they are less likely to see a biological family member on a regular basis.

Opening Doors London was set up to try to combat social isolation amongst older lesbian, gay and bisexual people through the provision of social activities and befriending. This video shows the vital part they play in tackling loneliness and isolation for older lesbian, gay and bisexual people:

North London Cares aims to tackle isolation and loneliness amongst the most vulnerable older people in our community and to build understanding and relationships throughout the local area. As older lesbian, gay and bisexual people face severe isolation, we are working with Opening Doors London to deliver intergenerational activities in North London to foster new relationships and understanding between lesbian, gay and bisexual people of all ages in our community.