June is Pride month! Pride is a chance to bring visibility to issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, offer support, and celebrate legal victories that allow for increased freedom. Last year on the blog we covered a variety of resources for LGBTQ+ seniors. Today we’re going to look at ways that community members and professionals can support LGBTQ+ seniors. 

In the workplace 

• Make sure your organization has a have a non‐discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. 
  • This should also be posted on your agency’s website.  
• Include a variety of options for relationship status on forms (e.g., in a domestic partnership, significant other, etc) instead of only asking for marital status. 
• In intakes, ask questions such as “tell me about the people who are important to you” or “who will be visiting you?” 
• Make sure that company publications (e.g., brochures, flyers) have positive images of LGBT individuals.  
• Train staff on topics such as inclusion, sexual orientation, and identity. 
• Include the LGBTQ+ community in outreach programs.  
• Assume that your agency is already serving members of the LGBTQ+ community (because you very likely are) 

As a caregiver 

• Ask your loved one who they want to be included in their care (remember that members of the LGBTQ+ community are three times more likely than the general population to not have children to help with their care)  
• Make sure all legal and health documents are easily accessible. SAGE Metro Detroit has a great guide to The Legal Documents Every LGBT Older Adult Needs.  
• Do due diligence to find LGBT-friendly doctors, therapists, etc. Great resources for this include OutCare and SAGE Metro Detroit’s Rainbow Resource Guide (Note: this guide is based in Metro Detroit) 
• Check out SAGE Metro Detroit’s Guide for Caregivers for more resources! 

General Tips 

• Treat others with the same respect you’d like to receive.  
• Use individuals’ preferred names and pronouns. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask if you’re unsure of someone’s pronouns. 
• Not all LGBTQ+ couples are married. Follow an individual’s lead and use the term they use for their partner (e.g., wife, roommate, partner, friend, etc.).  
• Never “out” a person (e.g., recognizing them as a member of the LGBTQ+ community without their consent).  
• Use a person’s preferred name and pronouns- even if they aren’t in the room! 

Visit the Ahead of the Curve Resource Directory to view resources that are LGBTQ Affirming