The YouGov survey found that more than 40 per cent of gay men
and women live alone, compared to less than a third of heterosexual
males and females, while only eight per cent of gay, lesbian and
bisexual over-55s see family members a few times a week - almost
three times less than their straight counterparts.
The survey, which quizzed more than 2,000 straight and gay people
over the age of 55, is the first of its kind.
As reported by the Guardian, Ben Summerskill, head of Stonewall
said: "This pioneering research confirms what we already knew
intuitively, that there are hundreds of thousands of lesbian and
gay people growing older without the same family and support
structures that many straight people enjoy.
"Quite often, that's because their own families have disowned them
just because of the way they were born."
Respondents were asked their thoughts on the issues of family,
living alone and care provision for gays as they get older.
Summerskill stressed that more needs to be done in terms of
providing the relevant care to meet the needs of older gay
people.
"We're facing a care time bomb of institutional ignorance about
what a community that makes a £40bn a year contribution to public
services will soon - quite properly - be demanding," he said.
Summerskill added: "For the first time this generation of ageing
gay people fully expects to be treated with respect by both public
and commercial service providers.
"They want to be able to share a room in an old people's home or
to be supported through their partner's terminal illness just like
anyone else."
