Author name: Beatrix

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Aging LGBTQ Articles, Research

Majority of LGBT Adults Concerned About Social Support and Discrimination in Long-Term Care

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Originally posted by The Seattle Lesbian on April 2, 2018 at http://theseattlelesbian.com/majority-of-lgbt-adults-concerned-about-social-support-and-discrimination-in-long-term-care/

NEW AARP NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS MOST LGBT ADULTS WANT BUT DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO LGBT-SENSITIVE CARE AND SERVICES.

When it comes to aging-related concerns, older LGBT adults worry most about having adequate family and other social support to rely on as they age, discrimination in long-term care (LTC) facilities, and access to LGBT-sensitive services for seniors, according to a new AARP survey. Black and Latino LGBT adults report the greatest concern about future family and social supports, and greater worry about potential abuse in LTC facilities because of their race/ethnicity and

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Research, Resources, Uncategorized

Fact Sheet: Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity

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Sixty-eight percent of Hispanics had health insurance coverage in 2009 compared to 88 percent of white Americans.

Download this fact sheet (pdf)

Below are the facts that outline racial and ethnic health care disparities in the United States. The reports “ Easing the Burden: Using Health Care Reform to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care for the Chronically Ill” and “ Measuring the Gaps: Collecting Data to Drive Improvements in Health Care Disparities” outline how robust implementation of provisions in the Affordable Care Act can help address these disparities and ensure that all Americans, regardless of race and ethnicity,

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Resources

Building Better Mental Health

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Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life’s setbacks and hardships. Whether you’re looking to cope with a specific mental health problem, handle your emotions better, or simply to feel more positive and energetic, there are plenty of ways to take control of your mental health—starting today.

What does it mean to be mentally healthy?

Mental health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It encompasses the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage …

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Resources

Mental Health Basics

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What is mental illness?

Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic) and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day.

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What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.1Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, …

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Research

Just how gay is Seattle?

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This article originally posted October 7, 2012 by  at http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2012/10/07/just-how-gay-is-seattle/

The battle is heating up over Referendum 74, which will ask voters to decide if the new law allowing same-sex marriage in Washington should be upheld.  The people who will be most immediately affected by the outcome of this vote, naturally, are gay men and lesbians.

So just how many people would that be here in Washington and in Seattle?

It would be nice if there were good, solid data to answer that question, but there really aren’t.   The Census Bureau doesn’t ask about sexual orientation directly.   There are some surveys of …

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Research

An epidemic of loneliness

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This article originally posted January 6th, 2019 by The Week Staff at https://theweek.com/articles-amp/815518/epidemic-loneliness

Nearly half of all Americans today say they are lonely. Why is that so, and what are the consequences? Here’s everything you need to know:

How is loneliness defined?

Loneliness isn’t determined by the actual number of friends or social contacts a person has. Social science researchers define loneliness as the emotional state created when people have fewer social contacts and meaningful relationships than they would like — relationships that make them feel known and understood. Essentially, if you feel lonely, you are lonely. One out of two Americans now …

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Uncategorized

3 Differences Between the Terms ‘Gay’ and ‘Queer’ — and Why It Matters

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Originally posted  by  at https://everydayfeminism.com/2016/03/difference-between-gay-queer/

For a while, I thought I was gay. And maybe I was for some of that time – there’s nothing wrong with being gay. But I’m definitely not now.

I thought I was gay because I thought I was a man, and I thought I was only and always attracted to other men.

I don’t know what gender I am anymore, if any. I knew before coming to that particular realization that I’m also not only, and haven’t always been, attracted to men. Additionally, I realized I don’t know what exactly “attraction” means.…

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Uncategorized

Most LGBTQ People are Cyberbullied. Here’s How to Stay Safe Online

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Originally posted by Sarah Turner at https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/lgbtq-guide-online-safety/ 

We at vpnMentor conducted a survey in which we asked 695 LGBTQ+ people worldwide about their experiences online as they relate to their sexual orientation and gender identity. The results – referenced throughout this article – illuminated the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

Here are some of our key findings:+

  • 73% of all respondents in all categories of gender identity and sexual orientation have been personally attacked or harassed online.
  • 50% of all respondents in all categories of gender identity and sexual orientation have suffered sexual harassment online.
  • When it
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Research

Black, Gray and Gay: The Perils of Aging LGBTQ People of Color

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Cecelia Hayden Smith, 72, knows exactly how she wants to live out the remainder of her golden years: lounging lazily on the porch of a cozy house tucked along a quiet, treelined street in Washington, D.C.

She’d greet her partner each morning with a homemade country breakfast, and their afternoons and evenings would be filled with lively games of Spades and Bid Whist with a dozen or so housemates — all fellow LGBTQ elders.

“I’ve already picked out my rocking chair,” the retired substance abuse counselor quipped. “Just call me ‘Mama C,’ and make sure my room is in the front, so I …

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Uncategorized

Seattle LGBTQ Organizations and Periodicals Timeline

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Here are brief descriptions of many of Seattle’s LGBTQ civil rights organizations, listed according to the decade of their founding. Kevin McKenna is author and section coordinator.

1960s:

1970s:

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Research, Resources

HIV and Older Adults

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Key Points

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, an estimated 45% of Americans living with diagnosed HIV were aged 50 and older.
  • Many HIV risk factors are the same for adults of any age, but older people are less likely to get tested for HIV.
  • Treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) is recommended for everyone with HIV. Life-long treatment with HIV medicines helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives.
  • Many older adults have conditions such as heart disease or diabetes that can complicate HIV treatment.

Does HIV affect older adults?

Yes,

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Resources

What men can gain from therapy

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Speaking for my gender, there are two qualities that define most men: we seldom like to ask for help, and we do not like to talk about our feelings. Combining the two — asking for help about our feelings — is the ultimate affront to many men’s masculinity.

We like to think of ourselves as strong, problem-solver types. But when it comes to emotional and mental issues, men need to quit trying to bottle up their feelings and tough it out, says Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “Your mental health …

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Research, Resources, Uncategorized

How simply moving benefits your mental health

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While it is obvious that your feelings can influence your movement, it is not as obvious that your movement can impact your feelings too. For example, when you feel tired and sad, you may move more slowly. When you feel anxious, you may either rush around or become completely paralyzed. But recent studies show that the connection between your brain and your body is a “two-way street” and that means movement can change your brain, too!

How exercise can improve mood disorders

Regular aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety by making your brain’s “fight or flight” system less reactive. When anxious …

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Resources, Uncategorized

13 Mental Health Benefits Of Exercise

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Many people hit the gym or pound the pavement to improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, and of course, get a rockin’ bod, but working out has above-the-neck benefits, too. For the past decade or so, scientists have pondered how exercising can boost brain function. Regardless of age or fitness level (yup, this includes everyone from mall-walkers to marathoners), studies show that making time for exercise provides some serious mental benefits. Get inspired to exercise by reading up on these unexpected ways that working out can benefit mental health, relationships and lead to a healthier and happier life overall.

1. Reduce Stress

Rough …

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Resources, Uncategorized

Modern Senior Living for LGBT Seniors

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These days, more people can openly say, “I”m gay,” without fear of ridicule or outright rejection. Society as a whole tends to feel that the world has become more open to differences in sexual orientation and lifestyles that were once considered strictly taboo.

But to those in the LGBT community, the stigma still feels very real. The discrimination exists, and the heart-wrenching rejection by friends and loved ones hurts. And for seniors, the fear of coming out can become all too real again as they consider moving to senior living communities, even for those who have been openly out for decades.

Discrimination is …

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