[always2late]

Thank you so much Jess for posting this. I work in the field of geriatrics, a population that is often overlooked in most circumstances anyway, especially those in nursing homes or other institutionalized care. Its so heartbreaking to think how hard someone in that age group had to fight to be who they are, only to feel the need to hide in their "golden years". At my job, there are quite a few out employees, and I would like to think that no elderly person who was gay would be treated any differently....however, in this case, its sometimes not the employees that are the problem. Its the fellow patients. These are people who grew up in that time...and most, if not all, have brought the prejudices of a lifetime with them. At my old job I heard of one female patient, who had died several years before I worked there, being ostracized by other patients because she was gay. The thought of that is so horrible....to outlive your friends, and either have no family...or family that puts you in a home and forgets about you...and then to be shunned by your "peers". What could be a worse way to spend your final years on this earth? I have heard of several "retirement communities" founded by, and for, the LGBT community....but what about the years after, when more care is required? What about when one can no longer live independantly? Its a sobering thought...and one that needs to be addressed. No one should have to spend the end of their life in hiding or in fear.