Today is World Health Organisation International Day of Older Persons. WHO highlights that people over 60 are becoming a larger percentage of the population who are increasingly playing a critical role – through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force.
For older LGBT persons it raises a number of issues including care of partners, impact of HIV and issue of lack of recognition of one’s sexuality in care for older people.
There is a few specific organisations which offer support. The best known is the Lesbian Elders Village project.
The short film The Colonel’s Outing also highlights the issues of love for older gay men.
The other examples are older LGBT persons who offer support of community groups through volunteering time and/or offering financial support.
If you know of other examples of support for older LGBT persons in New Zealand please feel free to add a comment below.
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