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Best Practices For Those Working With LGBT* Older Adults
Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders and the National Resource Center on LGBT* Aging are the premier sources for supporting LGBT* older adults and addressing the challenges they face.
The following are recommendations which human service professionals can utilize (National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, 2017).
Individual Actions
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Recognize the individual as a person not a number and focuses on them specifically in terms of care and needs.
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Educate yourself on the history of the LGBT* community. It is important to acknowledge the lived experiences of each individual are different but can be shaped by historical events.
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Acknowledge that ageism exists in the LGBT* community, clients may have misconceptions about aging.
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Address your own assumptions about aging and LGBT* individuals.
Programs and Services
Assess your programs and services:
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Are they open to older adults? Are they relevant to older adults?
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Can you modify programs to include LGBT* older adults?
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Make sure you have ongoing activities, not one time events
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Partner with other organizations to expand your reach
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Accommodate the needs of older adults in terms of timing, setting, location
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Identify LGBT* specific organizations locally to connect clients with and for partnerships
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Utilize your clients for feedback, what do they want to see?
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Make it interesting and keep it fun!
Terminology
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Let the client guide you
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Who an individual discloses their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is their choice. Some individuals will utilize certain words or euphemisms to describe partners.
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Older adults may use language that is not up to date, some older adults may find terminology used today to be offensive.
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Do not use negative terms associated with older adults.
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Read up on terminology, get the perspectives of others respectfully.
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DO NOT make fun of terminology, such as saying “Isn’t it LGBTMNOP?” or using gender pronouns to make fun of someone.
External Inclusion
​Let the external aspects of your organization reflect your efforts to include and represent LGBT* older adults:
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Do your materials have LGBT* older adults on them?
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Do you include older adults at all on your website or other promotional materials?
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Are your materials on LGBT* individuals old, outdated, or tucked away in a back room?
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Are there any LGBT* symbols in your space?
Intake and Confidentiality
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Express LGBT* inclusivity on documents
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Do not assume anyone’s sexual orientation or gender identity
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Ask everyone the same questions/information
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Always have an other or fill in option
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Have a clearly defined confidentiality statement
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Always offer a private space
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Include LGBT* older adults in creating confidentiality statements
Advocacy
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Support older adult specific policies
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Learn about and keep up to date on LGBT* specific policy and LGBT* older adult specific policy
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Make sure any speakers or presenters use “inclusive language and present information about particular issues that affect LGBT* older adults.”
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Encourage LGBT* older adults to “prepare advance directives, wills and other important documents to protect themselves, their partners, and their families of choice.”
Internal Measures
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Ensure your organization has policies in place that support respect, and include LGBT* older adults.
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Provide cultural competency training for staff.
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Have feedback opportunities in place for staff and clients.
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