ElderBranch Takes a Look at Two Organizations Advocating for Better Treatment of LGBT Senior Citizens
New York, New York (PRWEB) July 24, 2013 -- As part of an ongoing series on the challenges and promises of LGBT senior living, ElderBranch spoke with two organizations whose work is helping to overcome the discrimination this population still faces: Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) and Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH).
Hostile Health Care Environments
In its report, LGBT Older Adults and Inhospitable Health Care Environments, SAGE details how health care settings are often challenging environments for LGBT elders. These seniors may face outright discrimination, or it may be that the staff in these settings is not trained to deal with this population of elders.
Though some health care environments are starting to change, the scars of previous negative experiences leave many seniors reluctant to pursue care unless absolutely necessary. In fact, a 2006 study found that less than half of lesbian and gay Baby Boomers were strongly confident that health care professionals would treat them with dignity and respect.
However, in delaying the pursuit of health care, LGBT older adults often find themselves in a position where their health deteriorates more suddenly and sooner than expected, and then they end up requiring institutional care – such as nursing home care.
Challenges in Nursing Home Settings
In traditional nursing home settings, LGBT seniors often face discrimination not only from staff members, but also from other residents and residents’ family members. Hostility from a variety of angles can lead to LGBT elders keeping to themselves and limiting interaction with others.
Staff members have been known to deny same-sex partner visitations, prevent same-sex couples from sharing rooms and even refuse the participation of a same-sex partner in the medical decision-making of the resident.
Effecting Change – SAGE Advocacy
To help overcome these challenges, SAGE advocates on a number of key issues pertaining to care in nursing home settings, including cultural competency training for staff and ensuring access for partners and children who do not have legally recognized relationships.
The LGBT movement’s efforts in these arenas are evidently paying off. On June 28, 2013, CMS issued a memorandum to State Survey Agency Directors, reiterating resident rights surrounding access and visitation.
The memo states that long-term care facilities must ensure that all visitors be given full and equal visitation privileges. Most significantly, the memo states that residents must be notified of their rights to have visitors on a 24-hour basis, who could include, but are not limited to, spouses (including same-sex spouses), domestic partners (including same-sex domestic partners), other family members, or friends.
The LGBT Community and the Risk of Poverty
One of the lesser known and understood challenges with regards to LGBT issues, and LGBT senior living in particular, is the higher risk of poverty faced by the LGBT community.
SAGE points to two key reasons as to why the LGBT community is at higher risk of poverty: they face continuous discrimination in a variety of settings (social, work, etc.) and tend to have much thinner support networks (many don’t have spouses, children, etc.). Furthermore, same-sex couples have to date been denied benefits that heterosexual couples have come to rely on in their later years.
Eric Harrison of GLEH adds that a variety of other issues impact the financial security of LGBT elders: “Same-sex partners cannot share a room in most care settings, tax laws discriminate against same-sex partners, [and] Medicaid regulations protect the assets and homes of married spouses when their partner enters a nursing home or long-term care facility [whereas] no such protection is offered to same-sex partners.”
Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH)’s Affordable Housing Model
In order to address the challenges faced by the LGBT elder community in terms of economic security and senior living, GLEH has dedicated itself to building and operating affordable housing developments that provide social and recreational services in an LGBT-friendly environment.
In 2007 with Triangle Square – Hollywood, GLEH opened the first affordable housing development in the country. This community features 104 apartments and caters to LGBT, low-income elders, including those living at or below poverty. Approximately one third of the units are reserved for those with HIV/AIDS, that are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Based on the success of this first location, GLEH is developing its second LGBT-friendly, affordable housing project. This building, set to open in the spring of 2014, will be a 40-unit development also in Hollywood.
GLEH is not only focused specifically on developing affordable housing, but also on delivering a holistic service model to its residents. GLEH achieves this through its Comprehensive Housing Care Program (CHCP). The CHCP consists of three pillars: the Housing Retention program, the Aging in Place program, and the Health & Wellness program.
While many challenges remain ahead, the advocacy efforts underway at SAGE and GLEH are improving the quality of life for LGBT seniors and helping to reduce discrimination in senior living communities.
About Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources for LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations, largely through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.
About Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH)
GLEH’s mission is to improve the life experience of LGBT seniors by developing affordable housing, providing comprehensive care, and ensuring, through advocacy and education, a brighter future for the LGBT elder community. GLEH operates the first affordable housing complex in the nation serving the LGBT community.
About ElderBranch
ElderBranch is an online information portal that helps people find and evaluate long-term care providers. ElderBranch’s mission is to support users in making the best decision possible for themselves and their loved ones.
Anila Sitaram Venkat, ElderBranch, http://www.elderbranch.com, 917-725-0285, [email protected]
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