Given the invisibility of gay and lesbian seniors and potential risks to healthy aging as a result of lifelong exposure to discrimination, it is important to understand the factors that contribute or inhibit healthy aging for this population. This includes understanding their specific needs and realities, and the role of both seniors’ associations and the gay and lesbian community and voluntary sector as key players in the healthy aging of gay and lesbian seniors.

This environmental scan is a first step in documenting the current challenges and risks to healthy aging among gay and lesbian seniors, to understand the role of community and voluntary sectors working with gay and lesbian seniors and to identify gaps in order to inform a healthy aging approach that can contribute to the health and well being for this population.