Despite disparities, most LGBT elders are aging well.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults display remarkable resilience as they live their lives and build their communities, despite adversity they may face. In fact, LGBT older adults’ resilience may result from adversity and strengthen their fortitude, enhancing their health and well-being. Understanding health disparities among LGBT older adults is critical to identifying pockets of risk in these communities, but it is also imperative that we remain cognizant that most LGBT older adults enjoy good health and are aging well. Our research findings from Caring and Aging with Pride (CAP), a national study of 2,560 LGBT adults ages 50 to 95, demonstrate that most LGBT older adults are satisfied with their lives and aging successfully with strong personal and social ties, as illustrated in The Aging and Health Report: Disparities and Resilience among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults, (2011 http://goo.gl/4shpjl). Yet research demonstrates that les-bian, gay and bisexual older adults are a health-disparate population with elevated levels of poor general health, physical limitations and mental distress compared with heterosexuals of similar ages. Transgender older adults have even higher rates of disability, poor physical health and depression. The Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify the lack of attention to sexual orientation and age as critical gaps in our understanding and ability to reduce health disparities.