Paths to care among midlife and older gay men and lesbians

Many lesbian and gay (LG) elders, classified by various social scientific researchers as\ud individuals 50 years of age and older, may feel an increased pressure of aging earlier in\ud life because of various factors such as lack of familial support, partners, children, and\ud legal recognition. Related to this lack of support is uncertainty and ambiguity about\ud potential needed care in later life. Through analysis and coding of 20 qualitative\ud interviews, five areas arose: images of aging (self-image), concerns and fears for the\ud future, hopes for the future, discussions about receiving care, and discussions about\ud providing care, each of which comprise multiple themes and codes. Considering the\ud limited research on older lesbians and gay men, this study sheds light on some of the\ud many fears, concerns, and hopes for the future in ways that may prove beneficial to older\ud lesbians and gay men, especially those on their paths to care