Childless older people and LGB elders: Health, life course transitions and care

Population ageing is making diversity in old age more visible. Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals are increasingly becoming subjects of ageing research as they age in so unique and particular processes. Despite the growing recognition and protection of LGB parenthood, currently most LGB elders age as childless individuals. Hence, they share many common aspects with their heterosexual peers who also age as childless older persons: (a) they are usually expected to be highly involved in providing care to members of their families of origin because they are perceived as having less family responsibilities; (b) their support networks in old age are potentially smaller than those of persons with children; (c) their health behaviours are specific in, for instance, care seeking behaviours and other self care practices; (d) they have learned to manage stigma and develop coping strategies to deal with their ageing process at early age.

Both groups, childless and LGB individuals, confront the normative ageing process. This paper draws on the analysis of data from wave 1 (2004) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which includes information on more than 31,000 individuals aged 50+ from twelve countries. The paper particularly considers 2,794 individuals who were either ageing as childless persons or ageing with a same-sex partner. The interactions of social and family support networks, care-giving arrangements, care expectations in old age, gender norms and health behaviours are analysed and complemented with 10 in-depth interviews with LGB individuals aged 50+. Since demographic changes and diversity in old age challenge heteronormative assumptions that have ruled theory and practice in relation to old age, the paper argues that investigating non-normative ageing can inform policy recommendations on care for all individuals.