Advancing Health Equity Among Older Racialized LGBTQ+ Immigrants: Findings of a Scoping Review and Program Scan

<p dir="ltr">Canada’s population is aging. It is estimated that there are at least 400,000 LGBTQ+ seniors in Canada. Despite the advancement of gay rights in Canada, LGBTQ+ seniors, especially members of racialized and/or immigrant communities, have often been excluded from research and health care planning.</p><p dir="ltr">Our team conducted a scoping review of existing evidence on the health and wellbeing of racialized and/or immigrant LGBTQ+ seniors. The review shows:</p><ol><li>There is limited research in Canada. Out of the 14 studies selected, only two were conducted in Canada.</li><li>The health and wellbeing of racialized and/or immigrant LGBTQ+ seniors are affected by many social factors: household income, education, limited familial and social support, housing, food security, and social exclusion.</li><li>Many racialized and immigrant LGBTQ+ seniors tend to distrust the health care system due to experiences of stigma and discrimination.</li><li>At the same time, services are often inaccessible or not available to them. As a result, they may delay treatment and rely on alternative care such as spiritual and natural healing. These factors lead to poor health and mental health outcomes.</li></ol><p dir="ltr">To advance health equity, it is important to address multiple related factors by:</p><ul><li>Engaging racialized/immigrant LGBTQ+ seniors to identify their unique needs</li><li>Providing culturally inclusive and accessible services that affirm their intersecting social identities</li><li>Promoting their individual and collective resilience</li><li>Addressing systemic barriers and social isolation</li><li>Ensuring equitable funding and resources</li></ul><p><br></p>