Queer seniors connect online
A new initiative to connect elderly LGBTI people across the state has been launched.
Developed by ACON in conjunction with the Aurora Foundation and the Department of Health and Ageing, the LOVE (Living Older Visibly and Engaged) Project will aim to provide better aged care and support services to older LGBTI people, including a website for seniors to connect with each other and share their experiences.
An ACON spokesman said forums and consultation sessions were being organised to get “an idea of what people want” from the project.
“One of the major parts of the website will be encouraging seniors to upload personal stories and start conversations. It’s very important to help LGBTI people engage with each other and break down some of the isolation they face as they get older,” the spokesman said.
The project’s announcement follows the release of a University of Sydney study showing an engagement with social media markedly decreases loneliness and isolation among elderly people.
The study also found that the majority of people over the age of 65 found social media easy to use after a small amount of training, and that most found it just as affordable or cheaper than traditional means of communication.
