As a leading home care provider in Aurora, Colorado, I know firsthand the unique challenges faced by seniors from non-traditional families and relationships. Over the years, we have cared for transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) seniors and their partners, adapting our services to provide personalized and culturally competent support.
From understanding health considerations unique to the LGBTQ+ community to ensuring an inclusive environment for same-sex couples, we prioritize catering our care to the distinctive needs of this demographic. As more LGBTQ+ baby boomers enter their senior years, the demand for specialized senior care continues to grow substantially.
Tailoring Senior Care to the LGBTQ+ Experience
To provide meaningful care for LGBTQ+ seniors, the first and perhaps most vital step is listening and seeking to genuinely understand their lived experiences. The LGBTQ+ community faces disproportionate discrimination and hardship over the course of their lives compared to heterosexual people.
A culturally competent caregiver recognizes the adversity many LGBTQ+ seniors have conquered and understands the lasting impact societal marginalization can have on one’s physical health, mental health, and overall wellbeing. Showing interest in an LGBTQ+ senior’s journey demonstrates empathy and helps establish trust in the caregiving relationship.
Beyond emotional support, LGBTQ+ seniors have unique needs to be addressed to optimize health outcomes. For example, transgender seniors undergoing hormone therapy require caregivers to vigilantly monitor hormone levels and ensure medications are properly administered. We coordinate closely with each senior’s existing healthcare providers to provide continuity of care.
Our care plans also screen for increased risks of certain health conditions within the LGBTQ+ community, including higher rates of depression, anxiety, obesity, and tobacco usage. We leverage this knowledge to promote preventative wellness through mental health support and chronic disease management.
The Importance of an Inclusive Care Environment
Providing an inclusive, identity-affirming environment is central to the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ seniors under care. Each senior should feel acknowledged, respected, and celebrated for who they are. To accomplish this, ongoing training is imperative to promote cultural competence among our caregiving staff.
Our extensive training curriculum covers:
- Appropriate terminology – using preferred pronouns, avoiding assumptions
- Safe communication – discussing sexual orientation, gender identity, and health considerations sensitivity
- Respecting relationships – including partners in the care process
- Addressing unique needs – understanding elevated health risks, seeking specialized care when needed
We also vet each caregiving staff member for qualities aligned with our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Core competencies include patience, empathy, adaptability, active listening, and commitment to person-centered care.
By making inclusiveness central to our agency’s culture, we attract talented caregivers passionate about LGBTQ+ senior advocacy. We are proud that our staff reflects the diversity of the communities they serve.
Special Considerations for LGBTQ+ Couples
Caring for non-traditional couples poses unique considerations to ensure personalized care. Same-sex partners often face additional barriers to inclusion in their loved one’s care plan. Traditional assumptions around legal spousal rights, biological family involvement, and healthcare decision making do not always apply. We take extra care to validate domestic partnerships on equal grounds as legal marriages.
Some special considerations for serving LGBTQ+ couples include:
- Recognizing Chosen Family – Friends often provide critical emotional support and should be included accordingly.
- Advance Care Planning – Encouraging open communication between partners about healthcare wishes through tools like Five Wishes.
- Caregiver Introductions – Proactively explaining our inclusive values when meeting a new couple.
- Encouraging Partner Involvement – Keeping healthy partners actively engaged, as mutually desired by the couple.
- Support Groups – Facilitating peer support for LGBTQ+ caregivers through local partnerships.
- Special Events – Organizing community outings tailored to LGBTQ+ couples and seniors.
Bringing Generations Together Through Care
Intergenerational interactions can profoundly impact seniors’ emotional health and cognitive function while also fostering connections between age groups. However, LGBTQ+ seniors are less likely to have children or grandchildren participating in their daily lives.
To address this gap, we facilitate opportunities for multigenerational engagement through community partnerships. For example, we collaborate with the local high school’s gay-straight alliance group to pair students with LGBTQ+ seniors needing companionship. These visits provide socialization for often isolated seniors while expanding perspectives for teens.
We also partner with the Aurora Pride organization to include LGBTQ+ seniors in their annual Pride Fest. Seniors have the chance to either attend special senior-friendly festivals or volunteer at youth-focused events. These initiatives simultaneously support the aging and future generations of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Power of Specialized Care
Opting for specialized senior care attuned to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ couples and individuals makes a tremendous difference in quality of life. Personalized support empower seniors to age with dignity as their authentic selves.
Specialized assistance also alleviates strain for LGBTQ+ caregivers and partners. Knowledgable, culturally competent caregivers minimize the need to advocate and educate at a stressful point of life. Partners can focus on cherishing time together rather than battling discrimination.
As leaders in LGBTQ+ senior care for the Aurora area, we have witnessed countless examples of how purposeful inclusivity transforms lives. The bonds of trust built between our caregivers and seniors reaffirm human dignity.
One transgender gentleman under our care recovering from surgery stated he had never before felt so thoroughly respected and cared for. A lesbian couple planning their sunset years gained the confidence that their evolving needs would be supported with sensitivity.
These moments motivate our team daily to raise the standard for inclusive care. We firmly believe that diversity and equity should define the future of senior living for all. Only through relentless advocacy and innovation can we achieve this vision.
Take the Next Step in LGBTQ+ Senior Care
If you or a loved one identifies within the LGBTQ+ community and have home care needs, please know specialized support is available. Our team feels privileged to serve Aurora’s rich diversity of older adults and couples. We welcome the opportunity to learn from your experiences and craft customized solutions to enhance wellness in your next chapter of life.
To get started, please reach out to schedule a free in-home assessment and personal care consultation. We will collaboratively explore the possibilities and create a personalized plan aligned with your values. Here’s to aging proudly as your true, authentic self!
