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Wednesday, July 3, 2013
vicnews.com
AGING
WITH PRIDE
Greater Victoria’s aging queer population fears life in long-term care
I
t was when Linda Swanton had a heart attack that she first realized senior care might be a challenge for her. At age 60, Swanton had lived her life “in and out of the closet” as a lesbian, but when her partner was not allowed to come in the elevator with her at the emergency room, she knew the issues she may be facing were just beginning. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what rights you have on paper – it comes down to what your doctor’s beliefs are at that time and, right there, you don’t have the strength to fight it,” says Swanton, now 64. “We’re a community that’s spent our whole lives fighting to be together.” Four years ago, Swanton created a group called South Island Pride to address the issues that Danielle Pope specifically seniors living in the queer community Reporting have to face as they age. The group has turned its focus to queer youth needs since Swanton left the helm last year. Yet as Pride Week celebrates Victoria’s rainbow community from July 1 to 7, seniors living with Pride is still a largely undiscussed issue. “People in this community are simply terrified of aging, and what it would mean to have to go into a [care] home, or not be allowed to live their lifestyles,” says Swanton. “They would rather do anything than have to give up what they’ve worked so hard to achieve. There are suicides that go
Danielle Pope/News staff
Ruth Simkin holds a photo of the “love of her life,” who died in the 1960s. At age 70, and with compounding disabilities, Simkin is one of the countless lesbians in the community who refuses to go into a care facility.
unreported over this issue.” Swanton received a letter three years ago from an elderly transgendered woman expressing this fear. At age 93, the woman could no longer care for herself, but was uncomfortable with the idea that someone may not understand her lifestyle, or her body that still had male parts. It was her community that stepped up to offer care. Ruth Simkin is an outspoken lesbian author and retired physician who understands these issues well. She practised family medicine for 25 years in the community as an “out-ofthe-closet” advocate.
“Lying is a terrible thing.” - Ruth Simkin Now, at age 70, Simkin has compounding disabilities, but refuses to go into a care facility. The one time she tried, she got as far as signing the lease, but overwhelming anxiety and an understanding son helped her back out. “I just knew, I absolutely couldn’t live there,” says Simkin. “I like being in my home, and I’m just more comfortable living out. Lying is a terrible thing.”
“This is largely what happens – friends looking after friends, because there are precious few other options in this city,” says Swanton. “And it isn’t always the care staff people are worried about; it’s the people who will become your neighbours, how those folks feel about living beside ‘a queer’ and what that can mean.” PLEASE SEE: Long-term care, Page A3
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