Common Concerns Faced by Lesbian Elders: An Essential Context for Couple's Therapy

ABSTRACT

It is important that family therapists working with older lesbian couples, or their surviving members, consider the full and complex contexts of these clients. An exploration of the day-to-day challenges and strengths of these couples requires consideration of the roles of age, gender, and sexuality. Regardless of the modality that is applied, an awareness of common concerns for this population is necessary to yield ethical and effective work in sessions. This article will present information on older lesbians and their relationship characteristics with a focus on clinical application regarding demographics, income and retirement, housing, care giving, end of life issues, and access to health care.

KEYWORDS:

• Lesbian
• couples therapy
• feminist family therapy
• elder care
• elder advocacy
• gerontology
• GLBT