When the rainbow greys: Issues in ageing as an LGBT person

For the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, many societal changes have happened that have increased their visibility and rights. These individuals will face many of the issues faced by heterosexual older adults, but also additional ones specific for the LGBT groups. For the older transgender person, the ability to transition may be crucial to some but may face challenges related to health problems. Furthermore, there are issues related to personal care as a non-transitioned individual. The HIV epidemic hit the gay community, disproportionally more, and have still great ramifications. The chosen families of LGBT people may be invisible to nurses, and they may not be legally binding. Many fears and concerns LGBT older adults have can be alleviated by person-centered care when nurses treat them with dignity and compassion.