By Jeremiah Ancheta
Nearly two years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the world has seen some progress towards returning to the way things once were, various issues remain that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Particularly, the harmful effects of loneliness and isolation within the transgender community, especially transgender seniors (65 and older), in the U.S. and abroad. This issue, which has always existed, has been made worse by the pandemic. Here is a look at what has been done to address the issue and further measures to consider in the future.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 54 million senior citizens living in the United States; this accounts for 16.5% of the nation’s population. A report by the Williams Institute at UCLA notes that about 0.5% of seniors in the U.S. identify as transgender. However, this statistic only captures the seniors who openly identify as transgender, and it is probable that there are many more transgender seniors who have simply not been open about their identity. The number of seniors is expected to grow, with a projected 85.7 million seniors in the U.S. by 2050.
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that one fourth of seniors are considered socially isolated. Although loneliness and isolation in itself is troubling, there are also problematic health issues that arise from them.
Various studies have shown that senior folk who are isolated and suffer from loneliness are more at risk for debilitating health conditions. This includes issues such as dementia, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and even death.
This issue was aggravated in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic which led to restrictions on family members seeing senior relatives in medical care settings. Even now in 2021, some restrictions are still in place that limit visits in some capacity.
The pandemic has also affected transgender seniors in a two-fold manner. As seniors, they face the same debilitating health conditions as the rest of the population. However, the pandemic has also affected access to resources that are vital to transgender health.
A 2020 article by the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry notes that “The COVID-19 pandemic has diminished [Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB)] individuals’ access to the critical emotional and instrumental social support networks that are vital to their well-being… With school and university closures, TGNB youth may be living at home with family members who are struggling to accept and understand, or who do not accept their identities. TGNB adults also have diminished access to supportive communities given the limited number of online and virtual resources for TGNB people.”
Unfortunately, an article by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center points out how “loneliness and social isolation are rarely considered or addressed in health and mental health care settings.” However, the article also points out that such risk factors are the most addressable. So what exactly can be done to address the problem?
Studies point out that loneliness and social isolation issues vary on a case-by-case basis. As a result, different individuals will require different forms of intervention. One such intervention involves cognitive components, by helping seniors change their mindset about their social situation. This method may involve cognitive behavioral theory or mindfulness meditation to modify their mindset. Another intervention involves increasing social support or social interactions through community programs.
Ultimately, an article by the BMC Public Health concludes that “future research should be aimed at discerning what intervention works for whom, in what particular context and how.” As such, Cloud Dancers is interested in promoting more research on loneliness and social isolation among seniors, especially within the transgender community, as well as bringing more visibility for transgender seniors.