Second Time Overlooked in Crisis: Examining How HIV/AID Health Policies in the USA Connect with Policy Implications Today for Aging LGBTQ Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. policy has, once again, overlooked the health care needs of older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ). This population is estimated to more than double in the USA (Fredriksen-Goldsen, in Generations 38(4), 86–92, 2015), with estimates of approximately 3 million LGBTQ adults over 50 currently and 7 million by 2030 (Services and Advocacy for GBLT Elders in SAGE, New York, 2018). The healthcare model for addressing the needs of LGBTQ persons has historically been that of a disease model of care, particularly during the HIV/AIDS crisis, and has recently moved to that of a health equity model in the past 20 years. The LGBTQ community, social work profession, and general medical community worked to create the health care equity model we have today and this paper will discuss how this evolved. The health care equity model addresses the health needs for older adult LGBTQ populations. Older LGBTQ adults are more likely to experience elevated rates of chronic conditions (such as HIV, cancer, diabetes), higher prevalence of anxiety/depression, greater substance abuse, higher economic insecurities, limited community resources, and limited access to health care services compared to heterosexual/cisgender counterparts. This paper discusses how health disparities among this minority population and heterosexual/cisgender individuals have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, this paper will address policy, research, and practice implications to understand how to assist this vulnerable subpopulation of LGBTQ persons.