Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health (Essay Sample)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health
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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health
The family setting structure in Florida State of the US has in the recent years experienced dynamic changes due the US Supreme ruling of legalizing same sex marriages (Suppes et al., 2019). The family definition has evolved and changed as it includes lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender families. This calls for adaption in opinion, actions, and culture to the new norms. The LGBT population is subject to mental health issues that include anxiety, depression, suicidality, and substance abuse, they also spend their lives in hiding their sexual personalities and orientation (Suppes et al., 2019). These older adults are not easily identified as they work to manage their sexual orientation and identity disclosure which is cognizant of their background as well as their victimization and discrimination of historical experiences (Ruben et al., 2019). This paper will discuss the health of the elderly LGBT members of Florida State who the Medicine Institute says are an under-served population in the society (Ruben et al., 2019). The members of the LGBT group in Florida State have their health well-being at risk due to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidality resulting from the health disparities.
Overview of the Problem in Florida State
To be specific in Florida State, the older LGBT population here face health disparities, and legal discrimination that limits them from accessing housing, health insurance, adoption, and retirement benefits. As a result, this group is prone to low social support levels alongside non-existent or strained relationships with family members and the community (Ruben et al., 2019). This then leads into high rates of physical violence, substance abuse, suicide, and psychiatric disorders.
Epidemiological and Demographic Data on Mortality/Morbidity and Risk
Just like the general population, the LGBT community does also have their own behaviors and health needs. They face a poorly understood and profound set of extra health risks resulting from the social stigma they undergo through (Ruben et al., 2019). The assumptions and generalizations of the general public about the LGBT community affects the victims adversely thus barring them from the care that they deserve. This then results into disparities which the Healthy People 2020 says is a health result that is seen to a greater or lesser extent between populations (Healthy people 2020, 2018). Thus, the LGBT older adults are left by the health disparities in higher health negative risks including unhealthy behaviors and depreciated mental health conditions.
Major Causes of Morbidity and Mortality
LGBT adults experience major health indicators such as access to health care, mental health, and HIV and AIDS which are disproportionally to the same age heterosexuals (Suppes et al., 2019). These older adults are as well prone to greater social risks than the heterosexual peers. Such signs are the major points of concern that relatively affect the mortality and morbidity of such a diverse population (Suppes et al., 2019).
Access to Healthcare
The elderly LGBT population in Florida State encounter broad barriers in accessing the required health care services. Generally, the LGBT population has a low rate of health insurance covers which denies them adequate access. In addition to this, when organizations and employers give out health covers to the same-sex spouse of a staff member or a retired one, the US federal law handles such a value of the partners health cover as a taxable revenue and that the LGBT pensioner is required to pay for such a benefit (Ruben et al., 2019). On the other hand, other members fail to seek medical care even if they have the health insurance covers.
Mental Health
The LGBT elderly population gets affected by three major mental issues that include stress, suicide, and depression prevalence. A report shows that about 39% who contemplate on suicidal thoughts were triggered by gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination related instances (Cortes et al., 2019). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual women/men have no variations in suicidal ideation. On the other hand, older transgender members are found to be contemplating on suicide than the non-transgender older adults, this happens regardless of the socio-demographic class.
HIV and AIDS
The CDC report 2019 shows that the diagnoses of HIV among those over 50 years have a higher figure and that the number of those who are battling with AIDS are more than those under the age of 24 (Ruben et al., 2019). This is as an outcome of the absence of HIV/AIDS prevention measures tailored to the elderly. Also, the LGBT population take a risk on the long-term effects of medicinal management for HIV and AIDS which is complicated by prospect of numerous medications for existing co-morbidities (Ruben et al., 2019).
Overview and Objectives of Healthy People 2020
Healthy People 2020 is the government’s federal prevention agenda that aims at building a healthier nation (Healthy people 2020, 2018). The goal of the Healthy People 2020 is to ensure that the program contributes significantly to the well-being of individuals as it embarks on developing quality and longer lives that are free from untimely death, frailty, harm, and avoidable diseases (Healthy people 2020, 2018). The objective is to recognize the most relevant preventable health hazards and to institute national goals that will reduce the hazards. In an overview, the Healthy People 2020 is meant to help individuals and other groups including the older LGBT population to acquire health equity, improve health without discrimination, eliminate disparities, and create accommodative socio-physical environments (Healthy people 2020, 2018).
Primary Health Care Focused Interventions
Interventions such as the Family Acceptance Project risk screener will be essential in assessing family rejection and other related risks in the LGBT old members. This will also focus on addressing drug and substance abuse, depression, and suicidal thoughts (Willging et al., 2020). On the other hand, Healthy People 2020 recommends the following intervention tools essential for the LGBT members; national survey for family growth, national health and nutrition, behavioral risk factor surveillance surveys, and an examination survey (Healthy people 2020, 2018). Addi