The Nordic population is ageing. This means that work to meet the increased needs of older individuals is becoming more and more relevant for achieving a sustainable society. In parallel, the situation for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries has changed radically in recent decades. This has resulted in increased access to social and legal rights, enhanced protection against discrimination, increased visibility, and more opportunities for building a community.
Nevertheless, studies have shown that a gender identity or sexual orientation that does not follow the conventional norm still significantly increases the risk of ill health. In particular bisexual and transgender people experience a higher degree of vulnerability and poorer mental and physical health compared to the majority population throughout their lives. How do these conditions affect older LGBTI people’s opportunities while ageing, and what happens during contact with health and social care?
This publication provides an introduction to the state of knowledge in this area and how researchers and other experts describe pressing concerns and knowledge gaps, and identify measures necessary for change. It summarises key messages from a high-level meeting with experts, that was related to the launch of the Nordic report: “He went back into the closet”: Older LGBTI people’s interactions with health and social care in the Nordic countries. The report’s title: “He went back into the closet” mirrors the experiences of some LGBTI seniors when moving to care homes where their needs are not properly met.
The report was released in December 2023. It is one key result of a project initiated by the Nordic Council of Ministers, which aimed to increase knowledge about the living conditions and quality of life of older LGBTI people, especially in relation to their encounters with health and social care. In November 2023, NIKK, Nordic Information on Gender, invited experts, key actors, and representatives from the target group in the Nordic countries to an initial high-level meeting in Reykjavik to address older LGBTI people’s living conditions. This publication highlights key messages from this expert meeting about these important matters.