An estimated 3 million American adults age 50 and older identify as LGBTQIA+,* and that number is expected to grow to about 7 million by 2030 as the U.S. population continues to age. While LGBTQIA+ adults in general are more likely to experience certain health problems than the general population, this may be especially true of older adults because of the cultural conditions they have experienced in their lifetimes.
Today’s LGBTQIA+ older adults grew up in an era when being open about who they were could lead to arrest, job loss, or outright rejection by their families. Many lived through police raids of gay bars, violence against gender-nonconforming people, and the devastating losses of the AIDS crisis.
These experiences weren’t isolated incidents. They were sustained, traumatic realities. And they left lasting marks on many people’s physical and mental health.
Chronic conditions and mental health
Many older adults live with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or depression. Research shows that LGBTQIA+ adults are more likely to experience many of these conditions earlier in life, driven in part by long-term stress, discrimination, and barriers to care.
Current data show that about 45% of LGBTQIA+ adults age 45 and older live with at least one chronic health condition or disability. Preventive care, physical activity, and mental health support remain essential tools for aging well. But people who spent decades being told they didn’t belong may still experience barriers when it comes to access and trust.
Cognitive health and dementia
Cognitive health is another critical aspect of aging. Studies suggest that about 7.4% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults are living with dementia, a rate shaped by risk factors such as depression, social isolation, and cardiovascular disease.
LGBTQIA+ older adults are also more likely to live alone or lack traditional caregiving support. For many, that creates an added fear: How can they navigate cognitive decline all by themselves?
Social isolation and support networks
Social connection plays a powerful role in healthy aging, yet loneliness remains a common concern for people aging in the LGBTQIA+ community.
- 78% of LGBTQIA+ adults age 45 and older say they worry about having enough social support as they age.
- Nearly half (48%) report feeling isolated at least some of the time.
- Feelings of isolation are especially common among transgender and nonbinary older adults.
Many LGBTQIA+ older adults rely on chosen family (close friends or community members) for emotional and caregiving support, rather than biological relatives. While these bonds are often strong and deeply meaningful, they are not always recognized or supported within traditional health care or long-term care systems.
Over time, social isolation can take a real toll. Loneliness is linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, heart disease, weakened immune function, and cognitive decline. It can also make it harder to manage chronic health conditions, keep medical appointments, and recover from illness. Having strong social ties and affirming, community-based support isn’t just comforting — it’s a social driver of health.
Health care access and discrimination
LGBTQIA+ adults generally report positive experiences with their health care providers, but discrimination remains a significant barrier for many.
- 65% of LGBTQIA+ adults report experiencing discrimination in daily life, including in health care settings.
- LGBTQIA+ patients are twice as likely to report negative health care experiences as non-LGBTQIA+ patients.
Fear of discrimination still leads some older adults to delay or avoid care, with real consequences for their long-term health. Finding age-friendly, affirming providers can make a meaningful difference not just in access to care, but in dignity and trust.
Key takeaways
If you’re an older LGBTQIA+ adult
You are a trailblazer. You’ve lived, loved, and survived through times that were openly hostile. And many of the rights that younger LGBTQIA+ people enjoy today exist because of what you’ve endured.
You deserve love and acceptance. You deserve respect. And you deserve the same chance to have good health as anyone else.
If you’ve been putting off checkups or screenings, consider making those appointments now. Be open with your health care providers when you can, even if it feels vulnerable. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Eat well. Move your body. Rest. Seek connection if it’s missing.
And reach out for help if you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, domestic violence, or substance use. If you’re an Independence Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan member, we offer a Behavioral Health Care Navigation team to help you access the right services at the right time. Call 1-800-688-1911 (TTY/TDD: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can also find additional behavioral health resources using our Provider Finder, or call our Member Help Team at the number on the back of your member ID card.
Support is available. And you’re worth it.
If you’re a health care provider
Take the time to understand the unique risks that patients in this population face. Screen them carefully for depression, anxiety, substance use, and intimate partner violence. Just as importantly, create an environment where they feel safe enough to be honest.
If you know an older person who is LGBTQIA+
Offer them patience, compassion, and steady support. Take time to understand what they’ve lived through. When someone has spent a lifetime being shamed or silenced, simple acts of affirmation can be very healing.
Final thoughts
Tragically, LGBTQIA+ young people today are experiencing a renewed rise in harassment, threats, and violence. If you want to understand the long-term impact of that type of climate, look at the health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ adults now in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Be an ally and push back against prejudice wherever you encounter it.
* Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or otherwise different from our culture’s sexual and gender norms
Independence Blue Cross offers PPO, HMO-POS, and HMO Medicare Advantage plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Independence Blue Cross PPO, HMO-POS, and HMO Medicare Advantage plans depends on contract renewal.
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Date last updated: 5/26/2026.