Gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transsexual individuals continue to face many problems in the
United States, including various forms of prejudice and discrimination, no
matter how old they are. However, older people who are homosexuals face unique
complications generally not faced by younger generations. Older people grew up
in a time when homosexuality was considered to be an abominable and immoral
practice.

This mentality was often encouraged by religious entities, families,
and individuals. However, today, people have become more accepting and tolerant
of differences in other individuals. More people are exploring alternate forms
of religion and are not conforming to the standards set by the primary
organized religions, such as Christianity and Judaism. In all, younger
generations are proving to be much more open-minded than their elders. As a
result, many young homosexuals are finding it to be easier to accept their
sexuality than older people often do. They are also more commonly accepted by
their peers than gay seniors are.

Due to the stigma that has been associated with homosexuality throughout most
of modern history, gay seniors are often in denial about their sexuality and
they may refuse to admit the truth to even themselves. For example, younger
gays tend to find it slightly easier to confide in friends and family about
their sexuality. This is not to say that young homosexuals do not face problems
and trouble when admitting their sexual preference.

However, gay seniors have
generally been taught that homosexuality is a sin since childhood. As a result,
older people usually experience are afraid with coming to terms with their
sexuality. Even if they are honest about their sexuality to themselves, gay
seniors often keep this secret and refuse to confide in friends and family. As
the baby boomers are beginning to retire, many gay seniors that have decided to
come out about their sexuality are facing extreme discrimination from their
peers, and openly gay older people suffer from severe discrimination when
they enter into nursing homespension plan

As individuals age, they
continue to require financial support in order to attain necessities and pay
their debts. Many individuals spend their entire lives saving for retirement,
and these individuals generally maintain the ability to retire comfortably and
securely. Employees are often provided with a pension planretire prematurelyage
discrimination

Most people are aware that illicit drug
experimentation and prescription drug misuse is a common practice within the
young adult population. Data suggests that at least half of the teenage
population will experiment with illegal drugs before they graduate from high
school. Despite this accepted realization, most individuals fail to recognize
the harmful issue of elderly drug misuse. Statistics indicate that prescription
drug abuse is a widespread problem within the elderly population. Whether done
intentionally or through accidental misuse, a large portion of the elder
population has partaken in prescription drug abuse or drug misuse.

These
improper uses of drugs can have extremely damaging effects on an individual’s
mental and physical health. Despite the severe consequences associated with
substance abuse, many medical professionals fail to confront elders about their
behavior. Some elderly individuals will employ extraordinary techniques in
order to ensure that they are able to obtain desired prescriptions and continue
their drug misuse. If this habit is not addressed, it may result in serious
medical complications and possibly death.

In many cases, elders are partaking in drug misuse without the conscious
knowledge that they are doing so. Elderly individuals are often left to their
own devices when it comes to regularly taking their prescription medications,
and what’s more, it is common for elders to loathe the thought of asking for
help. In most cases, they have already been stripped of a substantial portion
of their rights and privileges. Maintaining control of their day-to-day
activities is one way in which elders preserve a small portion of their
independence and control.

However, the reticence to ask for help may be
detrimental to an individual’s well-being, especially when it comes to
ingesting prescription drugs. One common complication that often results in
elder drug misuse is the failure to follow the specified instructions. Whether
an individual has purposely disregarded the instructions or has misread them,
this mistake may be fatal. For example, if an elder overdoses on medication
used to treat high blood pressure, his/her heart may slow and may eventually
stop beating, and he/she may stop breathing.

Overdosing on this and similar
medication can cause an individual to go into shock. Mixing various forms of
medications may also result in adverse medical consequences for the user. It is
essential for an individual to consult his/her physician before mixing any
types of medication. Likewise, if an individual is unsure about specified
instructions, he/she should ask for assistance.

Though accidental drug misuse is a widespread problem within the elder
population, prescription drug abuse is also a common and extremely dangerous
practice that is plaguing elders. The reasons that elders choose to engage in prescription
drug abuse vary a great deal depending on an individual’s specific
circumstances.

Regardless of the factors that lead to this dangerous behavior,
prescription drug abusers will often undertake extreme measures to generate the
means necessary to continue this practice. An individual may visit numerous
doctor’s offices in order to obtain multiple prescriptions to fuel his/her prescription
drug abuse problem. In many cases, physicians may expect an elder is abusing
drugs and fail to address the situation.

Often, physicians feel uncomfortable
confronting elderly patients about drug abuse and they often maintain the
mentality that elders should be permitted to do what brings them joy or
comfort, regardless of the harm they may cause. However, allowing this behavior
to continue may result in more severe medical complications, extensive medical debts, and premature
death.

As an individual ages, he/she not only suffers from the deterioration of his/her mental and physical health, but he/she is often at the center of numerous social issues that surround the elderly. In many cases, elderly individuals lose the majority of their privileges and are stripped of their independence. This often has serious implications for an individual’s psychological health, as it limits his/her ability to take part in the activities that he/he once enjoyed.

A common misconception regarding the elderly is that they maintain a very minimal social existence. Human beings are social creatures, regardless of their age, and therefore, it is important that they maintain the ability to socialize with other people.

However, as an individual’s health continues to deteriorate, he/she may slowly lose the ability to socialize and may be confined to his/her home. Often, elders who are enduring the aging process suffer from depression, coupled with the inhibition to ask for assistance completing important tasks. In some instances, medical conditions will cause an elder to suffer from severe pain and discomfort.

Extensive debate has arisen regarding the best way to address these social issues.In a world that full of prejudice and discrimination, it is difficult for any individual to admit that he/she is gay. This is true regardless of his/her race, ethnicity, or age. However, gay seniors often experience problems and complications that the younger generation does not have to address. In general, the younger generations are more accepting and open-minded than their elders.

Elderly individuals grew up being taught that homosexuality is unacceptable and immoral. In many cases, they have been conditioned to perceive this practice to be abominable.Therefore, it is often difficult for gay seniors to confide in their friends and family about their sexuality. They often face more severe and frequent discrimination than younger individuals, because their peers are generally less accepting of homosexuality. One of the primary concerns faced by gay seniors is the lack of legal and financial protection that they are offered in comparison with heterosexual couples.