A Needs Assessment of Hispanic LGBT Older Adults

The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA) released a report focusing on the needs of Hispanic elders who are LGBT. The authors conducted interviews and focus groups with this population, and found that many participants experience racial/ethnic and LGBT-based discrimination in housing and the workplace. These experiences negatively impacted their ability to secure employment and housing, thereby diminishing their ability to retire and increasing the likelihood of poverty during the later years of life. Results from the study also indicated that LGBT Hispanic elders experience social isolation from their families and various communities. NHCOA include a number of recommendations on ways to improve cultural competence, and increase access to healthcare and other services.