More and more adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are aging into what are supposed to be their ‘golden years.’ But many are not finding housing or care options that are affirming or even accepting of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Even though this segment of the LGBT population has been relatively invisible, it makes up a significant part of our community. Data from the 2000 Federal Census on same-sex couples show that nationwide, more than one in 10 same-sex couples include a partner over age 65—2,190 of those couples in Cook County.
Figures further reveal that nationwide, more than one in four same-sex couples include a partner over age 55—4,340 of them in Cook County. Nationwide, only Los Angeles County reported more same-sex couples in these age categories.
A report on forecasting retirement in the Chicago region released in 2000 by Metro Chicago Information Center reported that the number of persons over age 60 in the six-county metro region is expected to increase by 40% by the year 2030, compared to an overall population increase of just 16% in the same period.
The report on Chicago area LGBT seniors released last summer by the Chicago Task Force on LGBT Aging says that the retirement housing option most needed (60%) is supportive services to allow seniors to remain in their own home. Twenty percent indicated that a LGBT retirement community was the most important, and 15% indicated that an LGBT friendly assisted living facility was a priority. When asked where they would prefer to live when they could no longer live on their own, 43% said they would like to live in a retirement community, 24% in an assisted living facility, and 22% with family.
We know that this segment of the LGBT community is growing, and that a significant number are here in the Chicago metropolitan region. We also know that the needs and desires for retirement housing within this community vary widely, a trend reflected in studies in other metropolitan areas.
Nationwide, there are a number of LGBT retirement communities in development. Not surprisingly, the first facilities to be developed are those that invite individuals to purchase their homes (condo, town home, single family dwelling) and pay monthly fees for additional services. These developments include the Palms of Manasota near Sarasota, Fla., some of whose residents were featured in a Nightline segment last year. Funding has recently been secured for a development in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which will include a variety of living options as well as service to assist residents as they need additional supportive services or care. Similar facilities are under development in Palm Springs, Calif., rural North Carolina, and Boston.
Both Los Angeles and San Francisco are developing senior housing projects. Both will be built in urban neighborhoods, will include both private and public funding, and will include market-rate units as well as subsidized units. Similar projects are being developed in Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. Other models of LGBT retirement housing include a mobile-home park in Arizona where the majority of the residents are older lesbians, and a converted hotel in Phoenix that offers both short-stay resort accommodations and permanent housing for older gay men.
Here in Chicago there has been talk for several years about developing LGBT senior housing. An investment group in the late 1990s was planning to purchase and renovate a 1920s courtyard apartment building on the city’s Northwest Side. In recent years two developers have approached LGBT organizations about doing focus groups or surveys of housing needs. Currently, Chicago House and Social Service Agency and another local agency are each exploring the possibility of providing leadership in the development of such housing. Both agencies are seeking funding for the first phase of study and development.
If Chicago follows the trend seen in other major cities, the first LGBT senior living facilities likely to be seen will be those built by private developers where individuals purchase their homes or pay market-rate rental and additional fees for services. With the interest and leadership already being shown by existing agencies, however, we may be among the first wave of those developing mixed-rate facilities that include some subsidized units. And there are many, many other models in other locales which may be helpful for Chicago’s LGBT seniors to explore— including home-based assistance, communal living, and adding needed services to ‘naturally occurring retirement communities’ (NORCs) where a building’s tenants have grown older and now make up a majority of residents with similar needs. Also in the development stage are programs for providing information, education and training of management and service staff of senior housing facilities that do not cater specifically to LGBT adults, but whose population does include members of this group.
There will be an opportunity to discuss this issue Saturday, May 15, 1-3 p.m. at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. Round Table Discussion will follow the second annual LGBT Senior Health and benefits Fair ‘Aging Well Under the Rainbow,’ 1 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the same day. Call (773) 472-6469.