Addressing needs of LGBT seniors
Ray Maholtz, AA,BA,CBMS
Past President, Independent Council on Aging, INC.
With the aging of the baby boomers, nearly 80 million Americans born between 1946 and 1965 will need some types of service in their senior years. Of these 80 million approximately 2.4 million to 8 million are LGBT approaching the retirement age (Source: Senior Action in a Gay Environment).
We need to be sure that we here in our LGBT community in Erie (and the tri-state area) are taking care of our own senior gay community. We need to look at all the possibilities for aging in place and allowing the senior to remain in their home or in a "comfortable and acceptable" senior community. We need to hire agencies, caregivers and patronize senior communities that understand the LBGT community and accept and embrace our uniqueness. We need to support political leaders who respect and acknowledge our community and we need to abide by the mission of one or our local senior organizations, The Independent Council on Aging, Inc (ICA). The ICA's mission statement is very simple and concise: "to improve the quality of life for mature adults, while fostering a positive image of aging".
To me, it is quite amazing that locally we have done so little for seniors to have a place that they can afford that offers them respect and safety. Although anti-discrimination laws prohibit gay-only housing and hiring, some buildings (senior living communities) can be made LGBT-friendly through marketing and location. Providers need to do the same for in-home care aides. They need to hire and train aides who live and function within their/ own culture and communities. We need to remember that most of these gay seniors are birthed out of the baby boomer era, and make up all of the seniors who blazed a trail for gay rights.
Working in the elder care business, I see that many of our caregivers are uneducated about LGBT senior needs. Few acknowledge and overtly hire members of the LBGT community to care for LGBT seniors. Few, if any, advertise that they understand the needs of "all seniors" and have the qualified, educated caregivers on hand to help. I know of none that offer diversity training that includes LGBT. "We know that caregivers are uneducated about LGBT senior needs, " says Rod Hensel, s Buffalo area gay activist who helped to organize the Silver Pride Project. "And consequently we know that after sacrificing so much to come out, LGBT seniors feel the need to go back in the closet in their last days to avoid the discrimination and mistreatment they fought all their lives." More of our senior care community in the area need to start coming out and supporting the LGBT consumer by learning their culture and understanding the fears, desires and needs of the entire elderly population. They need to hire LGBT caregivers and match them to the appropriate senior. Having a caregiver who understands you, your lifestyle and your culture is paramount in a healthy, happy, and loving end of life experience. The agencies need to advertise and market "culture diversity".
The LGBT member needs to practice due diligence as well in choosing and seeking out providers, caregivers and agencies who understand them. They need to be pro-active in directing their own care, ask questions and ask for exactly what they expect of their caregiver and of the agencies that they hire.
Take a look online for agencies and organizations that cater to the senior community. Call, ask questions, and don't be afraid to express your needs and desires.
