Home⇛Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal⇛vol. 18 no. 2 (2024)

Delving Deep on the Untold Stories of Elderly Members of LGBTQIA+ Community

Marilyn  Hari | Peter Howard Obias

Discipline: Childhood and Youth Studies

 

Abstract:

This research was conducted to explore the understudied population of the elder LGBT. To identify their challenges and how do their life stories reflect Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development Integrity vs. Despair and the community support program be provided to the LGBT elders. The participants of the study were twelve self-identified gay and lesbian elders. The participants were also chosen using purposeful sampling to ensure they will meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria consisted of the following: 1. self-identified gay and lesbian; 2. must be 65 years of age or older; 3. single or without partner; 4. professionals and/or non-professionals; and 5. with part-time, full time and/or unemployed status during the interview. The exclusion criteria of the participants composed of aging lesbian and gays who cannot articulate and/or verbalize their answers, feelings and emotions, inability to remember some events and stories of their lives and with mental condition. Qualitative narrative research design was used and in-depth interview generated rich narratives of the rainbow elderly. Results showed that the challenges faced by gay and lesbian elders are health issues, basic needs, financial sustainability, need for companionship, fear of dependency and their clamor for support from the government. The majority of the participants’ life narratives reflected sense of integrity over few who expressed their regrets. Various themes from the study became the basis of several recommendations.



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