Caregivers are an essential part of care plans for older
adults, providing $450 billion worth of unpaid care each year (Croghan, 2014). Traditionally,
caregivers have often been the spouses or biological children of the care recipient.
However, this model is becoming outdated and not the most appropriate model for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Advocacy for LGBT
caregivers and care recipients is needed for a number of reasons. They include:
1)
Research
has shown that LGBT individuals are less likely to have children, making the
choice and availability of a caregiver a concern in the LGBT community (Cantor,
2004).
2)
LGBT individuals are more likely to rely on
non-family members for care (Canter, 2004; Croghan, 2014).
3)
LGBT middle-aged and older adults are almost
twice as likely as the general population to be caregivers and more than twice
as likely to be non-family caregivers (Croghan, 2014).
4) More LGBT older adults live alone and cannot
identify a caregiver than heterosexual older adults. This makes them more
susceptible to earlier institutionalized care. (Croghan, 2014). Lack of unpaid leave to care for a loved one under the
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a concern for the LGBT community. Only a
few states recognize leave for non-family caregivers and there are still quite
a few states where non-heterosexual people cannot legally marry (Croghan, 2014).
This impacts the health of both the caregiver and the care recipient.
Caregiving is a tough but rewarding role for both heterosexual and LGBT
caregivers. However, further advocacy is needed to ensure that all caregivers
and care recipients receive equal treatment and equal benefits.
References
Cantor, M. H.,
Brennan, M., & Shippy, R. A. (2004). Caregiving
among older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers. New York,
NY: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
Croghan, C.
(2014). What’s different about LGBT
informal caregiving? Retrieved from http://www.asaging.org/blog/whats-different-about-lgbt-informal-caregiving
