Hard Times for Gay Retirement Havens - The New York Times

SANTA FE, N.M. — Like so many others who have settled here, Janice Gaynor and her partner, Barbara Cohn, wanted to retire somewhere where they could be themselves, whether that meant holding hands in public or making decisions about each other’s end-of-life health care.

So when RainbowVision swung open its doors in 2006 as one of the first retirement communities in the country to proudly serve gay men and lesbians, offering elegant adobes where people could live out their lives among friends, the couple could not move in fast enough.

“This was our safety valve,” Ms. Gaynor said.

These days, that promise is all but forgotten. RainbowVision has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, racked by financial problems and an increasingly bitter dispute between residents and management. Its problems mirror those of many other gay retirement communities around the country that have either failed to open or fallen on hard times, victims of a weakened housing market, a deflated economy and, in some cases, poor business decisions.

They were once hailed as havens where the so-called Stonewall generation — the first “out” group of senior citizens — could age without being treated with hostility or forced back into the closet. But such communities in Austin, Tex.; Boston and in the Phoenix area never opened because of a lack of finances and a decline in real estate values. A development near Portland, Ore., is struggling at 25 percent of capacity, and another near Sarasota, Fla., has, like RainbowVision, filed for bankruptcy.

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ALFA Accepting Submissions for Senior Living Art Showcase

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is now accepting submissions for the annual ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase, an art competition for residents of senior living communities. As one way of showcasing seniors’ continued zeal for life and artistic talent, current senior living residents are being asked to submit their paintings around the theme carpe diem! (seize the day!)

“Senior living communities not only encourage residents to pursue the activities they have always loved, they also offer enriching environments to learn new skills,” said Richard P. Grimes, ALFA president and CEO. “Whether a senior living resident has recently begun to pursue painting as a hobby or is continuing to pursue a lifelong passion, we expect there will be many submissions, since art is such an important aspect of many seniors’ lives.”

The competition is open to all residents of assisted living, independent living, and memory care communities. Digital photos of artwork can be submitted online through January 13, 2012. Semifinalists will be chosen and shared online through ALFA’s Facebook page, where people across the country can vote for their favorites.

Finalists will be honored at COMMUNITY 2012, the annual ALFA conference and expo, and will each finalist will receive a cash prize and a set of note cards with their painting printed on the front, to share with family and friends. Two grand prize winners will be selected and each will be given a painting party for his or her senior living community as a way of celebrating the winner’s talents and involvement in community life. To learn more about the ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase, visit www.alfa.org/art.

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Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors - ALFA

A study of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender seniors finds that LGBT seniors experience higher levels of disability and social isolation than the general population. The study, funded by the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging, identified the most needed services for this group.

The report released by the University of Washington’s School of Social Work, found a disparity in rates of disability between LGBT older adults and their heterosexual peers. Among LGBT older adults 47 percent were disabled, while 35 percent of heterosexual older adults were disabled. These LGBT older adults also faced increased psychological concerns. About 31 percent of LGBT seniors experienced depression, while 53 percent reported loneliness. Many LGBT do not seek help out of fear of discrimination, and many do not have children or a partner, which may contribute to the social isolation and limit access to community services.



Only 28 percent of participants used programs or services available in their community, and many identified that more services were needed to cater to their specific population. 66 percent of respondents identified senior housing as being the most needed service, and about half called for tailored assisted living communities specifically. Those aged 50-64 or 80 and older were more likely than those aged 65-79 to request more LGBT assisted living options. While senior housing options are the most needed according to participants, transportation and social events were tied for second, with 62 percent of respondents reporting a need.

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Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors

Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors