In this podcast Ruth Busch and Jan Wilson from New Zealand talk about attending the human rights conference.
Summary
In an insightful conversation held at Wellington Town Hall, interviewees Jan Wilson and Ruth Busch discuss the challenges and invisibility that LGBTI elders face within the aged care system in New Zealand. Interviewer Jim Whitman delves into the crucial topic of how elderly members of the LGBTI community are often neglected in policy and research on aging. Wilson and Busch emphasize that numerous reports on aging have failed to recognize LGBTI individuals, rendering them invisible and unsupported.
The dialogue highlights personal accounts from collective members, recounting troubling experiences of LGBTI elders grappling with dementia and cancer without concrete support from the healthcare system. These narratives include instances of discrimination, such as being ostracized from a dementia unit or struggling to receive necessary residential care that recognizes and respects their identities and relationships.
Both Wilson and Busch stress the vital need for the creation of safe and affordable lesbian-friendly services, as many within the community do not have extended families and thus heavily rely on their community for support. The fear of being driven back into the closet as a result of this invisibility is palpable, denoting a step backward for many who fought for their rights in the 1970s.
The inadequacies of the healthcare system are underlined through the absence of questions pertaining to sexual orientation in the standard 260-question assessment for elders, highlighting a gaping hole in the sensitivity and training of caregivers. The danger of being mainstreamed into a one-size-fits-all approach to elder care is evident, as it does not consider the unique needs of LGBTI individuals, like the need for a supportive environment where one does not have to hide their sexual orientation.
Wilson and Busch also discuss the idea of setting up an intentional community for lesbians, emphasizing the financial hurdles and lack of funding for a needs assessment, which is pivotal for obtaining further grants. The urgency of addressing these issues precludes waiting for a crisis moment in old age, and the interviewees advocate for proactive measures.
Additionally, the conversation touches on the broader issue of ageism within the LGBTI community and the importance of creating a virtual community as an interim measure while working towards physical community spaces. A strong focus is placed on the necessity for resolution and action, exemplified by a resolution that the interviewees intend to present to a caucus with the goal of endorsing government action on issues facing aging sexual minorities.
Ending on a resolute note, the interviewees aim to ensure that the concerns of aging LGBTI members, including those related to affordable housing and healthcare, are recognized and addressed, aligning with principles of inclusivity and human rights for all, regardless of age.
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