Having Pride in Your Work: How to Serve LGBT Older Adults Better

Common misconceptions about older adults include that all older adults are heterosexual. This is merely a myth. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults live in all states and territories of the United States and all parts of Georgia, from the rolling mountains in the north to the humid swamps of the south. Understanding the needs of this unique population is critical for gerontologists as the Baby Boomer generation ages, who tend to be more “out” and self-identify with pride. More importantly, LGBT older adults have been accessing needed services, often returning to the proverbial closet (Maddox, 2010). This presentation will start with a brief introduction to gender identity and sexual orientation as well as some background information on LGBT older adults. Then, three key concepts will be introduced to help organizations and individuals be inclusive of and better serve LGBT individuals. First, strategies to create inclusive environments from intake to discharge will be introduced. Second, the presentation will cover how to collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity. Third, simple steps to creating LGBT programming will be introduced. A list of resources and where to find additional information will wrap up the presentation. Question and answers will follow