Aging Gays, Lesbians Find Challenges in Assisted-living Centers

Beverly Taylor, 81, and Edie Brown, 77, have been together for 37 years. The same-sex couple married in Canada in 2005.

"Everybody hopes to age in place, but when something happens to one of us, it's going to be very difficult to stay here," Brown said of their Ventura double-wide mobile home.

They feel certain Brown's sister would care for one or both of them, should it become necessary, but they realize a skilled-nursing facility or assisted-living center is always a possibility.

Neither would hide their sexual identity at such a place, but "I don't think we'd run up the rainbow flag," Taylor joked.

Brown and Taylor are aware that many lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people who came out of the closet go right back in when they need elder care.