Three out of four members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) communities said they wished there were more LGBTI-specific retirement homes and nursing homes, according to a survey conducted by banking giant Barclays and Gay Star News.
The survey drew from more than 2,300 respondents, and was conducted for Gay Star News’s inaugural LGBTI Founders Day, held September 24 at Barclays’ London headquarters.
Of those surveyed 77% of those surveyed responded to the concept of “‘More LGBTI nursing home and retirement homes” with “love it” or “pretty good,” with 58% responding with “love it.”
The survey also found that just below 70% of pre-retirement LGBTI people fear poor health or illness as they age, while 56% feared loneliness and isolation. But LGBTI nursing homes and retirement options are rare, according to Gay Star News.
“Skilled nursing specifically for LGBTI folks is super needed,” one survey respondent said. “Also assisted living facilities.”
There is currently no dedicated LGBTI nursing home in the United Kingdom, Gay Star News noted. The U.S., on the other hand, has a growing number of retirement villages or complexes targeting those in the LGBTI communities who are age 55 or older. Gay Star News specifically cited Town Hall Apartments in Chicago, which has 79 apartments and a waitlist that currently has 210 applications.
David James, the property manager at Town Hall, told the publication that he was not surprised by the survey results.
“As our LGBTI population ages, the options for safe, inclusive elderly communities are few to none in most cities,” he said.
Written by Maggie Flynn
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