How is Growing Awareness of Gender Identities and Sexual Orientations Changing Senior Care in San Francisco?
Growing awareness of gender identities and sexual orientations is prompting policy changes in medical care in San Francisco and Marin County. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Bay Area advocates want to change how professional caregivers for the elderly interact with LGBT seniors, especially seniors with dementia.
According to the Chronicle, “the city of San Francisco, through its Department of Aging and Adult Services, is funding a $400,000 effort to train hundreds of workers at companies and public agencies on how to better communicate with aging LGBT adults. Primarily aimed at home care aides and staffers at senior centers, it is also offered to organizations that interact with seniors regularly, like Meals on Wheels and public transit employees.”
The San Francisco Human Services Agency estimates that approximately 12 percent of seniors age 60 and above in San Francisco identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. According to aging policy experts, they face challenges specific to their generation, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
“LGBT seniors are more likely to live alone, and only 15 percent have children, often the de facto caregivers for aging adults; and many worry that disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to caregivers or peers in a care facility may lead to discrimination, said Edie Yau of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, which is leading the training with Openhouse, the San Francisco advocacy group for LGBT seniors. Some who have dementia regress to a previous period in their life, before they came out or transitioned, making conversations with family and care aides confusing and frustrating.” To read the full article, click here.
BrightStar Care of San Francisco and Marin County provides specialized home health care to LGTB Seniors aging in place. Learn more about our services here.
Source: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/The-singular-needs-of-LGBT-seniors-San-Francisco-13005292.php