“Aimed primarily at the 88,000 clinicians, educators, and researchers who subscribe to the American Psychological Association’s membership magazine Monitor on Psychology, “Double-whammy discrimination” reveals the dangers of overlooking older patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity in health-care encounters. Ignoring this aspect of diversity — and the diversity within the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) population — contributes to health disparities, including worse mental health and unhealthier behavior than heterosexual elders. It can even prove deadly, as unwelcoming environments cause older LGBT patients to delay seeking health-care services until problems become crises. The article outlines the special challenges — and resiliencies — of older LGBT individuals, reviews the literature on the impact of health-care providers’ ignorance or discomfort, and offers tips for creating an LGBT-friendly environment for older patients.”
