Invisible Older People: Lgbti+

Abstract

LGBT older people are an integral part of the ageing population. Due to the unfavourable social climate, they have faced homophobia, discrimination, ostracism, criminalisation, and psychiatrisation for a significant part of their lives; therefore, they remain highly distrustful, wary and reserved to institutions providing social and health services. As a result of years of negative experience, older LGBTI+ people feel very vulnerable and threatened by disrespect of dignity, inappropriate (ill) treatment or even abuse even in these institutions, which is why they hide their identity and sexual orientation. Yet, older LGBTI+ people are clients of both health and social services, as well. However, their situation in health and social institutions has not been adequately dealt with in the Czech socio-cultural environment yet, and older LGBTI+ people are the so-called "invisible minority", "not seen" even by the managers of these facilities, as our research, the results of which we present here, has demonstrated. Setting the quality of services provided and eliminating potential discrimination, however, requires raising the profile of the issue and raising awareness among care professionals.