Abuse of older LGBTI people: the unique challenges

The health and wellbeing of older people are shaped by their physical and social environments, which in turn shape their opportunities, behaviours and access to essential services. Successful ageing depends on factors such as economic security, consistent income and workforce participation, and strong social connections. These factors also act as protective barriers to elder abuse.

However, older LGBTI people often face distinct challenges that exclude them from the benefits of these factors.

While the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census has never measured how many LGBTI people live in Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission estimates that around 11% of the population identifies as LGBTI.1 This equates to approximately 979,000 LGBTI adults aged 50 or older in Australia,2 a number expected to grow over the next decade.

That estimate is supported by the LGBT+ Pride 2023 global survey, which found that the ‘average share of the self-identified LGBT+ population is 9%’ globally and 10% in Australia.3

Unique challenges for older LGBTI people

Older LGBTI people are particularly vulnerable to economic insecurity, social isolation and health inequality because of historical discrimination, systemic exclusion and deeply ingrained social stigma.

For example, compared to their heterosexual peers, older LGBTI people are:

• 2 times more likely to live alone

• 2.5 times more likely to be single

• 4 times less likely to have children.

These are factors that increase their risk of experiencing elder abuse.

Systemic erasure has compounded these challenges. Many older LGBTI people grew up in an era when their identities were criminalised or medicalised. Some were subjected to forced conversion practices. If their LGBTI identities brought them criminal records, it hindered their career prospects, financial stability and access to social and health services.

Even today, some older LGBTI people feel pressured to hide their identities – particularly in aged care settings, where they continue to fear discrimination or mistreatment.

This exclusion and disadvantage mean that LGBTI elders are also more likely to face poorer health outcomes. The cumulative effects of a lifetime of discrimination – which include higher rates of mental health conditions, substance abuse and smoking – contribute to increased rates of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and HIV.

These vulnerabilities overlap with, and increase, the risks of elder abuse.

Forms of elder abuse

The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, that occurs within a relationship of trust and causes harm or distress to an older person.4 Abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, social, financial or material and may include neglect and serious violations of dignity and respect.

For LGBTI elders, abuse often takes unique forms because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.

Intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) within LGBTI relationships is often overlooked. Research suggests that IPV rates among LGBTI people are comparable to, or higher than, those for heterosexual relationships. Yet IPV among older LGBTI people remains largely invisible.

Older survivors face significant barriers to accessing support, including fears of being outed, a lack of culturally competent services, and institutional indifference. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTI elders, those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, and those living with disabilities face additional layers of invisibility and discrimination.

Advocacy for any IPV survivors in LGBTI communities is critical, but especially for older people. To ensure that older survivors feel safe and supported without fear of stigma or retaliation, service providers will need to prioritise inclusive practices. Doing this will require comprehensive training for staff in aged care and social services.

Family violence

Many older LGBTI people have experienced rejection and abuse from their biological families, often since childhood. These experiences can leave them more vulnerable to family violence in later years.

For example, family members may exert coercive control by threatening to withdraw care or financial support unless the older person conforms to heteronormative expectations. This control may include, for example, demands to suppress their identity or participate in later-life conversion practices.

In addition, family violence often involves the erasure of chosen families: the support networks of friends and community members who play vital roles in LGBTI elders’ lives. Without legal recognition of these relationships, LGBTI elders may be excluded from decisions about their care or denied access to their chosen family members in medical and residential settings. Future planning documents such as enduring powers of attorney can help to establish and enforce this legal recognition.

Misgendering and deadnaming

Misgendering and deadnaming occur when caregivers, family members or peers use incorrect pronouns or gendered terms, often deliberately, as a means of asserting control or expressing disapproval.

These are particularly harmful forms of psychological and emotional abuse that transgender and non-binary older people frequently encounter. The actions not only invalidate the older person’s identity but can also contribute to significant emotional distress, social isolation and mental health issues.

Unintentional but repeated misgendering – often by people who say they don’t know any better – can still cause significant and cumulative harm over time.

Financial abuse in inheritance and property rights

Before the legalisation of same-sex marriage, LGBTI couples were unable to marry. This legal barrier prevented surviving partners from inheriting property in cases where the deceased partner had not left a will – unlike the surviving spouses of heterosexual marriages.

Without a will that explicitly names a surviving partner as a beneficiary, inheritance laws often default to biological family members, even if they had no significant relationship with the deceased. Even when a deceased LGBTI person has left a will, biological family members may contest it, arguing that the relationship with the surviving partner was illegitimate or that the older person was coerced into naming the partner as a beneficiary.

Older LGBTI people in unmarried long-term partnerships may also be denied benefits such as pension entitlements, even after their partner’s death. These benefits are often tied to legal marital status, leaving surviving partners financially vulnerable.

Abuse by paid carers

LGBTI elders are at risk of discrimination and abuse by paid carers. This can range from microaggressions, such as misgendering or derogatory remarks, to outright neglect or violence. Ageism when combined with homophobia or transphobia creates a double burden for LGBTI people who receive aged care services.

In hostile environments, older LGBTI people may feel forced to hide their identities to avoid mistreatment (a response known as ‘re-closeting’). Transgender older people are particularly vulnerable: many report being denied gender-affirming care or forced to conform to their birth-assigned gender.

Inadequate cultural competency training for care providers makes these issues worse. Staff training programs that address both ageism and LGBTI-specific concerns are essential for ensuring that care environments are safe, inclusive and respectful.

Systemic abuse in aged care facilities

Systemic abuse occurs when aged care facilities fail to recognise and respect LGBTI identities. Common examples include:

• denying recognition of long-term partnerships

• preventing couples from sharing rooms

• forbidding expressions of identity through clothing or personal items.

Such policies perpetuate feelings of invisibility and exclusion among LGBTI residents.

Tokenistic gestures, such as displaying rainbow flags, are not enough to make a facility inclusive and respectful when there are no substantive and meaningful policies and practices. To be truly inclusive and respectful, facilities will need to implement inclusive policies that support LGBTI residents’ rights to privacy, dignity and self-expression.

The importance of inclusive practices

Addressing elder abuse for LGBTI people will need systemic change at multiple levels. Policy reforms will need to ensure that LGBTI-specific provisions are included in elder abuse prevention frameworks. For example:

• Australia’s National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy outlines standards to promote inclusivity and protect the rights of LGBTI elders. Implementing such standards can significantly enhance the experiences of this cohort in aged care and make sure their identities and relationships are respected.

• Cultural competency training for aged care staff is critical. For real change, it’s imperative that service providers address unconscious bias and cultivate an environment of respect and affirmation for diverse identities. Programs like the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), which connects LGBTI elders with trained volunteers for social and emotional support, demonstrate how targeted initiatives can reduce isolation and improve quality of life. These programs not only address loneliness but also ensure that LGBTI elders feel seen, heard and valued within their communities.

• Fostering collaboration between government agencies and advocacy organisations can lead to the co-design of services tailored to meet the specific needs of LGBTI elders.

Through these efforts, aged care providers can create spaces where all older people, regardless of their identity, can age with dignity and safety.

The role of advocacy and research

Advocacy is vital for systemic reform and increased awareness. Many LGBTI elders experience heightened social isolation because they are not recognised in existing policies and aged care services.

Advocacy tries to make sure that the needs of these people are acknowledged and addressed. Initiatives like the Living Older Visibly and Engaged (LOVE) project emphasise the value that intergenerational engagement and community solidarity bring to fostering inclusion and resilience.

Further research is essential to fully understand the scope and impact of elder abuse within LGBTI communities and to inform evidence-based solutions. Despite growing awareness, a significant data gap persists between LGBTI elders in Australia and their non-LGBTI counterparts, particularly regarding population level. The Everyone’s business: research into responses to the abuse of older people in Western Australia report, which highlights the specific vulnerabilities of the LGBTI community, underscores the need to fill this gap.

• A critical step towards closing the data gap would be to include questions about sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in national surveys, such as the Australian Census. The information yielded would allow policymakers to design targeted interventions and allocate resources effectively.

• It’s equally important that the compounded vulnerabilities of LGBTI elders from CaLD backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and those with disabilities are recognised to ensure that no subgroup is left behind.

• Funding should also support the development and evaluation of programs that specifically address elder abuse in LGBTI communities. This includes training for social service providers to improve cultural competency and foster inclusive environments.

• Legislative advocacy needs to prioritise the rights of LGBTI elders to ensure they can access care systems without fear of exclusion or prejudice.

Through a combination of research, education and systemic change, advocacy efforts can lead to real improvements in the lives of older LGBTI people.

The way forward

LGBTI elder abuse is a multifaceted issue. It reflects the intersecting effects of ageism, homophobia, transphobia, and systemic stigma, marginalisation and discrimination, creating unique vulnerabilities for older LGBTI people. As a result, addressing it calls for a comprehensive and sustained approach that integrates policy reform, education, advocacy and community-driven solutions.

Inclusive policies need to put the specific needs of older LGBTI people at the centre to ensure that aged care systems, legal protections and social services affirm and support their identities. This would involve:

• enforcing anti-discrimination laws

• recognising chosen families in caregiving decisions

• creating environments in which LGBTI elders can live openly and authentically without fear of judgement or exclusion.

Culturally competent care is integral to reducing the risk of elder abuse and enhancing the wellbeing of LGBTI people. To address the unique concerns of this population, service providers and caregivers must be equipped with the appropriate skills and sensitivity.

Comprehensive training programs that emphasise diversity, inclusive communication and an understanding of historical discrimination against LGBTI communities are key to fostering safe and supportive care environments.

Advocating for systemic change requires a societal commitment to challenging the structural inequalities that perpetuate elder abuse. Ways to do this include:

• promoting awareness of the specific challenges LGBTI elders face

• funding research to fill knowledge gaps

• fostering intergenerational solidarity within LGBTI communities to ensure that older people feel valued and supported.

By acknowledging and honouring the unique experiences and identities of LGBTI elders, we can work collectively towards a society where all older people are treated with dignity, compassion and respect. Such a society not only protects the rights of LGBTI elders but also affirms their contributions, resilience and intrinsic worth as integral members of our communities.

Through sustained advocacy, inclusive practices and systemic reform, we can create a future where every older person feels safe, respected and celebrated.

About the authors

Kedy Kristal is the Executive Officer at GLBTI Rights in Ageing (GRAI), a Perth-based community and advocacy organisation. eo@grai.org.au

Dr Lukasz Krzyzowski is Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University, founder and director of the Rainbow Migrants Living Lab, and Researcher in Residence at GLBTI Rights in Ageing. l.krzyzowski@ecu.edu.au

Dr Catriona Stevens is Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow at the Edith Cowan University Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab. c.stevens@ecu.edu.au