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LGBT Long-Term Care Issues
![]() June 2011 | Daniel Redman
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Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people in long-term care facilities (along with their families and friends) need to know their rights and the red flags of mistreatment. This article outlines the types of discrimination that LGBT elders may face in nursing homes and discusses a few ways to address the problem.
Nearly nine in 10 respondents said that they thought long-term care staff would discriminate against someone who came out in a facility; eight in 10 responded that they would expect mistreatment or bullying from nursing home residents; one in 10 reported that nursing home staff had disregarded a medical power of attorney when it was assigned to a resident's partner. Transgender elders in particular reported that they experienced isolation and staff refusal to recognize their gender identities.
It is also very important for LGBT elders, their families, and their friends to proactively seek out inclusive facilities. There is no comprehensive list of LGBT friendly long-term care facilities, so it falls on us to investigate. You can do this by asking questions such as:
In addition, there are legal protections. At the state and municipal level, LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances that cover public accommodations should also cover long-term care facilities. At the federal level, the Nursing Home Reform Act and the Federal Housing Act also may provide protections. State tort laws, nursing home rights laws, and other legal protections also provide important tools for advocates. For an individual case, you should contact an advocacy organization for an assessment. Daniel Redman joined NCLR's Elder Law Project in 2010 as the recipient of both the Pride Law Fund Tom Steel Fellowship and the Berkeley Law Foundation Fellowship. Daniel leads the Del Martin Memorial LGBT Elder Advocacy Initiative, focusing on discrimination against LGBT elders. He has previously written on LGBT elder issues for Aging Today. © 2011-2019 Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint these articles, or post them online, please e-mail us. |
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![]() Supporting Direct Care Workers in Caring for Aging LGBT Individuals ![]() This brief provides a succinct overview of the challenges that LGBT older adults face when attempting to access direct care services, and recommends concrete actions that lawmakers, administrators and direct care workers can take to effect permanent changes in public policies and attitudes that will improve long-term care for LGBT older adults. ![]() See more: Caregiving, Culturally Competent Care and Training, Aging Providers, LGBT Organizations, LGBT Older Adults |
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