Nursing home for homosexuals
February 10, 2010 in Health & Medicine, Home & Lifestyle
My idea comes from two simple findings:
1. homosexuals are often single when they become elderly people
2. those of them that have money usually don’t have anyone to pass their heritage on to.
This information is supported by the following article, which claims that:
Nearly 20% of gay seniors have no one to care for them should they become ill, vs. 2% for heterosexual seniors.
2/3 of gay seniors live alone vs. 1/3 of heterosexual seniors.
( http://gaylife.about.com/b/2006/06/12/mature-gays-find-solace-in-gay-nursing-home.htm )
From these two statements, one may conclude that elderly homosexuals sometimes have money to spend and wish to be entertained by external people since they sometimes don’t have any close family.
Moreover, most senior homosexuals often fear ending up in a retirement home where gays and straight are mixed, due to homophobia.
Since it does not exist yet, I think one should start a nursing home exclusively dedicated to homosexuals. It would be somewhere fun. There would be parties till 8pm and sexy nursing “”"”girls”"”"…
However, on a longer term, this could also have the effect of even more secluding homosexuals from heterosexuals, thus increasing homophobia.
Now tell me, what would YOUR gay nursing home look like?????
(that was kind of a gay question)
Jonas Romain Wiesel said on February 10, 2010
I really strongly think when it’s time for you to go in a nursing home you really don’t care where you go…you just don’t really wonna go there…But its true that your article is interesting and more could be organized for elderly homosexuals but at the same time i just really think that they don’t want to be considered as different as heterosexuals.
Joan said on February 10, 2010
I love that idea! This is a clear business plan for once!
I think it would work out because you are taking a model that has been proven to work and you adapt it to a niche. The fact that gay people are lonely and rich makes it even more attractive.
Beside, whenever you are releasing a target customer group from a pain, you are on the right path. This is definitely a 5 star for me.
astrid said on February 10, 2010
Thank you for your comment, Jonas.
“you really don’t care where you go…”
REALLY? I don’t know where you got that idea.. I’d rather go to a nice beach surrounded by people like me, than to a random place with total strangers.
My idea was to create an attractive place you are looking forward to going to.
“they don’t want to be considered as different ”
It seems to me that the Gay Pride and the “Gay” stand at Fete Universelle at EHL are two straight-forward examples of gays wishing to differentiate themselves from the population.
Moreover, the older you get, the more you assume yourself and stand up for what you are.
Joan said on February 10, 2010
I’m having a hard time understanding how you can call the gay pride a “straight example” haha
astrid said on February 10, 2010
Joan, COMEDIAN!
Jonas Romain Wiesel said on February 10, 2010
I’m still not buying it guys! when i was saying i really think you don’t care where you go… I was basing it on the fact that i know no one that wants to go to a nursing home!!! you go there because you have to and most of the time because you are sent there by your family because they think it’s better for you!!
Second argument i have a strong feeling that most of the gay community would not like to spend the rest of their days in a 100% gay environment but this needs a real study.
I think your idea has some potential but your target market is much smaller than you said.
astrid said on February 10, 2010
actually it already exists… but doesn’t look like fun… there are things to do
http://gleh.org/
Joan said on February 10, 2010
According to wikipedia which is quoting 10 different studies about the gay proportion amongst us: “In the modern West, major studies indicate a prevalence of 2% to 13% of the population.” I don’t consider this as a small niche.
Now when you say that no one wants to go live in a nursing home, you make a good point. I don’t consider this as a problem though, it simply means that you have to brand it as a much cooler place. Call it a resort, a holiday village, whatever.
Now since it already exists, the best way of figuring out the sustainability of such a venture would be to investigate them a bit.