Evidence of Problem
The effects of discrimination last a lifetime because discrimination is a concept that can affect individuals on a personal level and on an institutionalized one (Emlet, 2016; Daley 2017). Many LGBT older adults dealt with understanding their sexual orientation and gender identity during a time is was socially unacceptable, which means that many LGBT older adults today still suffer from the psychological effects of discrimination. However, it is important to recognize discrimination within different generations is diverse. For example, In Caring with Aging and Pride states that age groups of the Silent and Greatest Generations are less likely to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity because keeping quiet was
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A recent study states 13 percent of lesbian, gay, or bisexual older adults had been denied or provided inferior care. Individuals working within several assisted living facilities have also been reported to display prejudice, and discriminatory practices. Reports of staff within assisted living facility demonstrating discrimination provides insight to the lack of adequate care LGBT older adults receive.
In addition to the many psychological difficulties elderly LGBT individuals experience, there are many economic and health disparities within LGBT subgroups. LGBT populations were older than 80 and living with HIV were more likely to have economic insecurity because of the impact of health care costs. What this means is that there are greater economic disparities among older LGBT and their heterosexual peers (Emlet, 2016). Also, older adults in general are more vulnerable to poverty and 26 percent of adults ages 65 and older live below 200 percent the poverty level (Emlet, 2016).
Prior Policy
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Unfortunately, there are resources lacking for LGBT older adults around south Jersey. SAGE for example is a program where older LGBT older adults can gather and socialize, there are several events and support groups within their facility. SAGE unfortunately does not have a program located in South Jersey which is why Qspots Buddy Program is necessary. QSpot is an LGBT community center located in Ocean Grove New Jersey. QSpot directs several arts programming which aims to increase mental health and socialization of LGBT individuals. In addition to Qspots arts programming, they are also direct of several support groups because of the prevalence of substance abuse and mental illnesses. Despite Qspots several attempts at assisting the LGBT community, many of their programs do not currently accommodate LGBT older adults who are homebound, hospitalized, or socially isolated. The Buddy Program was created with the intention of providing companions who volunteer at the QSpot to assist and accompany older adults. The role of a buddy is to be there for their clients or LGBT older adults, to provide company to an LGBT older adult who was feeling socially isolated. Buddies also have several other responsibilities such as re-directing their clients to helpful resources. With the help of a buddy their client would have otherwise been hesitant of finding because
Mercer, L. R. & Berger, R. M. (1989). Social service needs of lesbian and gay adolescents. Adolescent Sexuality: New Challenges for Social Workers. Haworth Press.
...gency is a busy environment, clean, and the staff is organized and friendly. The senior citizens are well engaged in their activities and are very active. The JSPOA Friendship center has several engaging activities for their members such as arts and crafts, exercise class, dance class, computer class, dominoes, and even outside trips. Doing field placement gave me an insight on what the center is about and what it has to offer. For example, I saw that the senior citizens at the center were very enthusiastic about their work and were so engaged in their activities. They were so thrilled to share their accomplishment such as their beautiful arts and craft. Overall, the senior citizens at the center looked very pleased with the services and programs that were available to them as well as the relationships they created with one another by being a member of this center.
Included in the amendments of Bill S.1028 is the proposal for the inclusion of various groups of elderly individuals who had been excluded from the original Older Americans Act of 1965 with the social benefits awarded to this specific population. That is, elderly people with sexual orientations other than heterosexual, and people with certain illnesses – that qualify, will be afforded the benefits under the old law and the amended law…if passed. The amendments in bill S.1028 are suitable for the current cultural as there is a clear paradigm shift in: 1. the growth of the elderly population, 2. the acceptance of individuals with different life-styles and, 3. the subjective socioeconomic circumstances the elderly may face.
Within business organizations, aging is something that is inevitable and unique to all people. Business practices need to be in the best interest of an organization, which is also inclusive to the employees, stakeholders, and customers in which they rely on and cater to. Best business practices, both directed and implied (regardless of the location) dictates that businesses follow and adhere to federal, state, city, and other local policies. However we needn’t look too far to see the multiple lawsuits that show continued and practiced bias and prejudice. One such incident involving discriminatory practices involving ageism that will be discussed within this discussion will revolve around a Texas Roadhouse restaurant based in Palm Bay, Florida.
Harold had been with the company going on forty-five years. There was no doubt that his contributions over the past few decades helped the once intimate business flourish into an international corporation. As his sixty-fifth birthday rolled around, Harold was greeted with a staff party and a mandatory retirement notice that was effective two weeks from that date. Harold was stunned, inasmuch as he had no intentions whatsoever to leave his position with the company; indeed, he was still fully able to complete his duties better than any new hire ever could, not to mention the fact that his attendance record was spotless. Needless to say, Harold was completely taken aback with the discovery that his company loyalty was cast aside in order to accommodate a younger workforce.
When an individual unintentionally enters a room full of an unfamiliar crowd, he or she is bound to be embarrassed, but also have an apprehensive sensation of how others in that room will distinguish them. A situation like that establishes a moment in which that person realizes that all eyes are gaping at that individual. Just when that person could consider forgetting what just happened, unfortunately judgments start circulating among the unfamiliar crowd. As most people know, judgments are based off of a person’s appearance, race, religion, or a quality that doesn’t appeal to the person analyzing them. Obviously, judging is something that takes place whether someone likes it or not, but there are certain limits to it that many cross by adding
It is important to identify at risk populations who suffer from health care disparities in order to decrease these disparities. Health care disparities can result in negative health outcomes when at risk populations are not afforded proper health treatment. According to Ranji, Beamesderfer, Kates, and Salganicoff (2014) health concerns and risk factors affecting the LGBT community include HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), drug abuse, mental health issues, and sexual and physical violence. The LGBT community is an at risk population due to barriers in health care linked to discrimination, prejudice, social stigma, and lack of access to health insurance especially for same-sex couples. (Healthypeople.gov 2013). It is important to identify community resources in the city of Houston for LGBT people in order to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these individuals. In an effort to promote the health of LGBT people, a health and wellness plan should be targeted within the LGBT community in the city of Houston.
Writers John Stossel and Frank Mastropolo, both working as a correspondent and journalist in ABC News, open their article highlighting the accomplishments of Bruce Marrow, a radio personality legend who “has been on the air for decades,” “Introduced the Beatles at the New York Shea’s Stadium,” and “was credited with helping push oldies station WCBS-FM to number one” (Stossel). However, the writers ended the paragraph talking about how legend Bruce Marrow, despite his endeavors, had been abruptly fired without any warning three years ago. They then continue to apply the same scenario to Kansas City DJ’s Max Floyd and Tanna Guthrie from 99.7 KY. The main reason why Stossel and his co-writer had decided to brusquely end the first paragraph of the article, it is not to embarrass Bruce Marrow or Max Floyd or Tanna Guthrie, but instead, to identify whether it is fair for people to get fired, even after they help build a company, just because they are getting old. The writer’s thesis starts off effective, but the bitter, harsh tone undoes its effectiveness.
The term “ageism” is not easily understood by most of the population because of its acceptance as normal behavior due to the ingrained attitudes that most people develop in their youth, but health care workers must fully embrace the term within their profession in order to avoid becoming a contributor to the historical prevalence of prejudices and discrimination. The term ageism is defined by Klein and Liu (2010) as “the discrimination of individuals based solely on age” (p. 334). “Ageism is a social construct that is internalized in the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals” (Klein & Liu, 2010, p. 334). Robert Butler, a well-known gerontologist, coined the term “ageism” citing that the discrimination and prejudice associated with this term is often based on the lack of a person’s experience with older people (Ferrini & Ferrini, 2013, p. 6). Ferrini and Ferrini (2013) refer to the strong influence that cultural beliefs and attitudes as well as a person’s current age influence the perception of aging (p. 6). Everywhere within society there are influences that encourage ageist attitudes such as media conveyances through movies, books, television, greeting cards, magazines and the Internet (Ferrini and Ferrini, 2013, p. 6). These negative connotations related to growing older begin to influence all people at a very young age and therefore impact their attitudes as they make career decisions. This has directly impacted the number of health care providers who specialize in geriatrics as well as the attitudes of those who do provide services for older adults. These false perceptions and negative attitudes are currently impacting the q...
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 is an act that was passed that clearly states that employers can’t be discriminate against someone based on their age 40 and older. The older adults are trying so hard to hold onto their jobs with dear life, because if not they will be nudged out and pushed aside. Not because of anything but rather because of their age. Age discrimination is on the rise as young as 50 years old. Age discrimination can happen to anyone regardless of your race, ethnic backgrounds or sexual orientation. A study was published in the Journal of Age Ageing and in the report it said that British People 50 years old and older faces discrimination about one third of them. In a resent survey older adults says job insecurity
There is very little research that has been done in the past on the mental health of LGBT individuals. In 1997 the federal center for Mental Health Services called for information to be compiled on the topic (Lucksted 3). Most of the information came from small publications, grass root information and self-reporting and even this information was incomplete because of the lesser reporting on people of the transgender and bisexual communities. This older report shows what the state of affairs was in ...
Countless organizations are available with the purpose of serving LGBT people who may be suffering, physically, mentally, or emotionally. One of the many goals of the LGBT community is to celebrate individuality, diversity, and sexuality. The LGBT does serve these needs, as it provides a place where gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people can be apologetically themselves.
Age discrimination continues to be a problem for both men and women that are over the age of 40 in the workforce. In year 1967, the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act ADEA was passed to prohibit discrimination against workers over age 40 and older. Another law in the year 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. However there are still age discrimination and it seems to be more especially for older women more than older men. The Federal and the state should implement more regulations to protect workers' rights in all age groups, both in the younger and older generation including their race and gender.
Huegel, Kelly. GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Queer and Questioning Teens. Vol. 1. Free Spirit Publishing, 2003. 1 vols.