LAUSR

Despite the recognition of older gay men’s unique health needs, the health care experiences of this group have seldom been explored empirically. Accordingly, in this qualitative study, we utilize a poststructuralist approach to grounded theory known as situational analysis to examine older gay men’s experiences with health care. Specifically, we draw on interviews with 27 gay men ages 50 and over, 16 of whom disclosed being HIV-positive at the time of recruitment, to consider this group’s interactions with formal health systems. We analyze how processes of subjugation and resistance are reflected in older gay men’s narrative accounts of navigating health care, and in this process, highlight the role of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in constructing health care as a site of subjugation and resistance for these men. We inductively examine discourses, interpretations of medical practices, and constructions of aging gay bodies that together reflect the historical and contemporary role of HIV/AIDS in shaping present day systems of heath care for older gay men. We conclude the paper with implications for research and policy in the area of gay aging, including the need for specialized psychosocial services targeting the needs of older gay men in health systems.