New AARP Survey Reveals Nearly 80% of Older LGBTQ+ Adults Are Concerned About Having Support as They Age

A new AARP study shows that four in five (78%) older adults who identify as LGBTQ+ are concerned about having enough support from family and friends as they get older. At the same time, nearly half (45%) are already living with a chronic condition, disability, or both – a figure that will likely increase as they age. The report, “Dignity 2024: The Experience of LGBTQ+ Older Adults,” examines top concerns of LGBTQ+ adults age 45 and over, from caregiving, to mental health, to finances.

“The unique needs and realities of older LGBTQ+ Americans are still too often overlooked in society,” said Cassandra Cantave Burton, Senior Research Advisor for AARP. “AARP’s research has consistently shown that the majority of LGBTQ+ older adults are concerned about having adequate social supports to rely on as they age.”

Three-in-five LGBTQ+ respondents age 45 or older (58%) are a caregiver or have been one in the past, which can add additional challenges – 78% of these LGBTQ+ caregivers say they are stressed emotionally. Some feel obligated to care for someone who is not accepting of their identity (14%). Most (61%) LGBTQ+ caregivers say they find it difficult get enough rest.

Almost half of all respondents (45%) expressed they lack companionship, and more (48%) said they often or sometimes feel isolated from others. LGBTQ+ respondents with a disability are also more likely to be extremely or very concerned (51%) about having adequate social support compared to those without a disability (33%).

Most (77%) LGBTQ+ older adults feel that being physically active and health is important. When asked about access to health care, respondents felt that age discrimination (25%), sexual orientation discrimination (21%), or gender identity discrimination (20%) have an effect on health.

Other noteworthy findings include:

• When considering future employment prospects among those who are employed, age-based discrimination is feared by nearly half (45%) of LGBTQ+ adults 45-plus.
• Almost all respondents (94%) say maintaining financial security is very or extremely important.

Between all LGBTQ groups, transgender/nonbinary individuals are least likely to have $75k or more (34%) in household income.
The report also offers recommendations to improve the outcomes, including increasing access to health care and providing health care providers tools and training for increased awareness of issues related to the LGBTQ+ community.

Dignity 2024: The Experience of LGBTQ+ Older Adults was fielded online in April 2024. A total of 2,212 LGBTQ community members age 45 and over participated, including 1,013 cisgender gay and bisexual+ men, 868 cisgender lesbian and bisexual+ women and an oversample of 331 transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) participants. The study oversampled Asian (106), African American/Black (276), and Hispanic/Latino(a/x) (269) individuals.

All reports in the Dignity series can be found here. AARP offers resources on aging for the LGBTQ community, including a guide to caregiving. Find more at AARP.org/LGBTQ.