Page 10 - Fall Access 2016

10
Growing support for older LGBT
Recent events like marriage equality and the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando have brought increased attention to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, but rarely in the media coverage and pictures from these events do we see the “grey-haired” members of this community. Several organizations in southeast Michigan are working together to bring increased awareness, advocacy, programs and attention to the LGBT older adult population, which often have unique needs and risk factors.
Based on data from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, there are an estimated 68,000 LGBT people age 65+ living in Michigan, and another 62,000 are between the ages of 55-64. The National Resource Center for LGBT Aging reports that these older adults have to deal with some unique challenges about aging, such as:
• 9 out of 10 LGBT older adults don’t have children to care for them as they age versus 2 out of 10 heterosexuals
• 7 out of 10 LGBT older adults live alone versus 3 out of 10 heterosexuals
• They are 3 times as likely to be living in poverty
• They are at higher risk for mental health or substance abuse issues
Long-term care service providers are not all well informed on these challenges or trained on how to appropriately identify the LGBT population. Over five years ago, a small group of caring individuals in southeast Michigan came together to do something about this issue. They worked with organizations like the ACLU, the Area Agencies on Aging and other local service agencies to form the LGBT Older Adult Coalition. This grassroots, volunteer-based organization held the first LGBT Older Adult Summit in Detroit (now an annual event), trained hundreds of service providers, and developed the Rainbow Resource Guide–a list of LGBT- friendly aging service organizations in southeast Michigan. This coalition has grown into a non-profit organization known as SAGE Metro Detroit, which is
one of 29 affiliate organizations of the national SAGE organization (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders). SAGE Metro Detroit is currently working to expand programming, raise funds to support the growing needs for their work, and develop a new resource guide for LGBT older adults.
When asked why she does this work, she simply explains “I am trying to save my own life.” Referencing an old Hebrew saying, If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
Judith “Judy” Lewis, Training & Education Coordinator for SAGE Metro Detroit, has dedicated the last several years advocating for this community. As a young woman growing up in the Detroit area in the 1960s, she always felt “different” but attributed that to growing up in a mixed faith household (Jewish and Catholic). She married and had children because that is what she was “supposed to do.” After later coming out as a lesbian, she realized she just wanted EVERYONE to be treated with dignity and respect. She now trains various professional groups across the region on how and why they need to be safe and welcoming places for older LGBT individuals to access services. This is particularly critical in Michigan where the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act does not protect people due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Judith “Judy” Lewis, Training & Education Coordinator for SAGE Metro Detroit.
When asked why she does this work, she simply explains “I am trying to save my own life.” Referencing an old Hebrew saying, If I am not for myself, who will be for me? Judy explains that she and so many LGBT older adults are afraid of being mistreated or as “less,” of receiving poor quality care, or having to hide their identity as LGBT. Judy’s goal is to “create an army of allies” of professionals in long-term care, advocates and peers.
The three Area Agencies on Aging in southeast Michigan are helping to lead the charge for this community by training staff, increasing awareness, and changing policies to be more LGBT inclusive. AAA 1-B specifically has trained our call center staff on how to identify LGBT callers and provide appropriate resources, changed our non-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity and worked with our service provider partners to do the same, and created LGBT-friendly print materials and website information. With support from Kendal Charitable Funds, AAA 1-B is currently working with The Senior Alliance and the Detroit Area Agency on Aging to help caregivers of LGBT older adults. This project is focused on educating the community about families of choice (Do you have the legal authority to make decisions for the person for whom you are caring?), protecting personal privacy (Do health care providers know the person is LGBT?), and preventing social isolation, a major concern for LGBT older adults who don’t have a community. AAA 1-B is proud to be a part of this local collaborative which is now looking at ways to expand this program to other Area Agencies on Aging across the state.
LGBT older adults and their caregivers need to know there are resources available to help them. AAA 1-B and organizations like SAGE are here to help.
To learn more, call AAA 1-B at 800-852-7795, visit www.sagemetrodetroit.org or visit the SAGE Metro Detroit booth at the AAA 1-B Caregiver Expo on October 15, 2016 at Wyndham Garden® Hotel in Sterling Heights.
Did you know?
AAA 1-B publishes a FREE, bimonthly, digital newsletter for caregivers. Subscribe to it here: www.aaa1b.org/caregiver-resources/caregiver-e-newsletter/
We provide FREE special training for family caregivers of loved ones with dementia. Find out when we’re teaching a class near you: www.aaa1b.org/caregiver-resources/caregiver-trainings/
We offer a Stanford University developed Diabetes Path and Boston University designed Matter of Balance classes across the AAA 1-B region. Classes cost $15 but you get that back as a gift card once you finish the program. Learn more here: www.aaa1b.org/programs-services/healthandwellness-2/
to find out when a class will be taught in your area or call: 1-800-852-7795.
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