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The Person Comes First – Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults

This webinar covers key points from the Activity Strong Executive Edition webinar titled “The Person Comes First: Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults.” The session featured experts Marvel Adams Jr. (W Lawson), Robert Espinoza (Phi), and Carrie Shaw (Embodied Labs) discussing challenges, best practices, and opportunities for better supporting LGBTQ+ older adults in senior living communities.

Key Challenges Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults

  • Approximately 2.4 million LGBTQ+ people are age 65+ in the US, with numbers expected to double by 2040
  • Many current LGBTQ+ older adults lived through decades of discrimination, when homosexuality was classified as a mental illness (until the 1970s)
  • Higher rates of health conditions including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes, and HIV compared to non-LGBTQ+ peers
  • These health disparities stem from lifetime discrimination, reduced healthcare access, and trauma
  • Many LGBTQ+ older adults remain reluctant to disclose their identity due to fear of discrimination

Best Practices for Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults

  1. Staff Education and Training
    • Implement LGBTQ+ cultural competence training programs like SAGE Care
    • Create robust non-discrimination policies and visitation protocols
    • Celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and history during Pride month and beyond
  2. Creating Inclusive Environments
    • Use inclusive activities like movie nights featuring LGBTQ+ themes
    • Offer art therapy or creative projects related to LGBTQ+ experiences
    • Create visible signs of support while respecting individual privacy
  3. Empathy Through Immersive Experiences
    • Embodied Labs’ virtual reality programs like “Eden Lab” allow staff to experience life from a trans older adult’s perspective
    • These shared experiences create psychological safety for discussions
  4. Important Considerations
    • Don’t expect LGBTQ+ residents to be educators about their community
    • Recognize diversity within the LGBTQ+ community
    • Balance faith-based traditions with inclusive care

Resources and Organizations

  • SAGE: National organization providing services and advocacy for LGBTQ+ adults
  • Long-term Care Equality Index: Partnership between Human Rights Campaign and SAGE that evaluates senior living settings for LGBTQ+ inclusivity
  • Embodied Labs: Provides immersive VR experiences to help caregivers understand LGBTQ+ perspectives
  • W Lawson: Offers a fellows program focused on longevity and inclusion

Moving Forward

The panelists emphasized the importance of taking action, however small, toward greater inclusion of aging LGBTQ+ adults. They noted that the journey to creating truly inclusive communities begins with a first step—whether that’s introducing more inclusive activities, implementing staff training, or simply starting conversations about how to better support LGBTQ+ aging adults.

As Robert Espinoza noted, “We’re not just thinking about their needs and their challenges but we’re actually thinking about their contributions and their strengths as well. All of us are multifaceted people and we should think about people in that way.”