Resistance and Resilience

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Few studies have looked at the aging process in terms of sexual orientation, and none have focused on the role that chronic health concerns play in this relationship. This article begins a more comprehensive theoretical exploration of the connection between aging, chronic illness, and sexual orientation. The author employs his practice experiences as a social worker for chronically ill and aging gay men to highlight key issues for this population, including resilience in the face of crises; mistrust of the mainstream medical and social service institutions; and internally and externally located obstacles to receiving effective medical and psychosocial care. Effective intervention strategies to serve this population are presented.