SPOTLIGHT COMMUNITY COMMENTS
“As they first did in 1969, the Baby Boomer generation of LGBT couples, families and individuals is again leading the way forward for all of us. On a national scale, communities are waking up to the indignities and discrimination faced by LGBT seniors as they age and are attempting to address the shortcomings of our systems of care.
“As they first did in 1969, the Baby Boomer generation
Jim Zians, Ph.D., a research consultant who prepared the
San Diego study comments: “Aging in place while growing older was among the highest priorities for LGBT seniors, based on results of the San Diego needs assessment. LGBT-affirmative housing and a network of home support services that are LGBT culturally competent will be necessary so that our seniors may remain in their homes and maintain maximum independence. San Diego’s LGBT community has an opportunity to rally and ensure that this hap- pens. Coming out of the closet staying out of the closet, and overcoming social stigma and discrimination remains the lifetime path for all of us. There need be no ‘fork in the road’ nor ‘U-turns’ upon growing older re- garding LGBT dignity. Our community will make good things happen for our seniors, and it is wonderful that The San Diego LGBT Community Center and SDHDF are showing leadership on this important issue.”
of LGBT couples, families and individuals is again leading the way forward for all of us. On a national scale, commu- nities are waking up to the indignities and discrimination faced by LGBT seniors as they age and are attempting to address the shortcomings of our systems of care. It has been inspiring to watch the San Diego community come together to recognize the hard work and leadership of this generation and to begin to address the needs.” The Center’s “50 years and Better Together Senior
Services Program” strives to create a safe vibrant space where those 50 years and “better” will have access to important resources and referrals regarding health care, mental health services and other social services, they can participate in a full range of recreational and edu- cational community activities.
Individual volunteers,
community leaders and organizations have stepped up to help. SDHDF’s “Aging with Dignity” initiative is an in- credibly important effort that for a community that can honor and provide for its seniors as they age. We look forward to working closely with SDHDF as this initiative progresses.” Tony, SDHDF and The Center representatives have participated in a volunteer ad hoc senior advisory group for the past few years.
The Center provided meeting space, assistance and
considerable guidance and know-how to this group and SDHDF provided encouragement and its expertise. What role did the group play in the development of the initiative? The LGBT community has a long history of activism
Leane Marchese, Executive Director of ElderHelp of San Diego comments: “ElderHelp focuses on helping seniors remain in their homes and communities at a price they can afford. Through the work that has been done within the LGBT aging community here in San Diego we learned that, both within the non-profit community-based agen- cies and among for profit providers who are serving the LGBT senior population, there must absolutely be cultural competency for aging issues and specifically for the LGBT senior population. These dual competencies and sensitivities need to be available from a manage- ment perspective and at the line staff level to those people who are actually providing home care and health-related services. Accomplishing this will require strong collaboration with all the aging providers and the LGBT community which will ensure a rich offering for LGBT baby boomers and those who are needing those vital services today.”
and volunteerism that often begins as grass roots com- munity efforts. With the advent of social networking tools these activists and volunteers organize more quickly and are becoming increasingly vocal and key to helping identify issues common to all of us, whether it be the challenges of our seniors or dealing with DADT, DOMA, HIV/AIDS, political, election or the myriad of is- sues that impact our lives at every conceivable level. One such grassroots organization is the San Diego
LGBT Senior Housing Advisory group. We are most appreciative of the dedication and commitment of this passionate group of community volunteers and lead- ers who have given time, talent and personal funds to research, interview, study and review the needs of our local senior community—and in the process pour over articles and studies conducted in other parts of the nation. It has been our involvement with them that has taught us a great deal about the complex challenges facing our seniors, and the passion our community has for improving conditions for them. We listened, we heard, digested and now we as a community are taking collaborative action. As a foundation, we are proud to
play our natural role. The “Aging with Dignity” initiative is a ground-breaking byproduct of this group’s effort and the dedicated collaboration between The Center and the SDHDF. SDHDF and The Center have different but related missions. What are the advantages of the two organizations collaborat- ing to meet community needs in general but specifically those of the senior community? Both organizations, in their respective roles, are
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dedicated to serving San Diego’s LGBT community. The Center is a truly outstanding organization and SDHDF greatly appreciates and respects the incredible work they do. Our collaboration is driven by how we can each best serve the LGBT community. To do that we must listen carefully to what the people we strive to serve are telling us. Whenever two organizations with agreeable missions
work together toward a common goal, there are distinct advantages to having them join forces to address complex problems. The myriad of issues faced by LGBT seniors is multifaceted and challenging. When you consider physical and emotional challenges, housing, extended care and nursing homes, along with the social isolation and poverty, it is going to take all of our efforts and the cooperation of many organizations to bring about the short-term and long-term solutions needed. There are many Internet sites that provide numerous studies at this point, but I am not aware of a central repository where the data and information from work being done around the nation is being assembled and made easily available to those seeking to identify specific challenges and solutions. The enormity, promi- nence and attention the issue is receiving calls for such a repository. By exchanging this information we will cre- ate a synergistic force upon which our LGBT community can capitalize significantly. What roles do ordinary community members play in the founda- tions and other community organizations’ decision-making processes?
One of the ways we are hearing from our community
is through social networking outlets, such as Facebook. I recently started a Facebook group called “Caring for Our LGBT Seniors in San Diego” and by the end of the first week, there were already 228 members. Aging with Dignity is in many ways a bottom up type of program. Our next steps will be driven by the data we collect from the LGBT seniors receiving services. The conversation about the challenges our seniors are facing is taking place on several fronts and in communities across the nation. Where would you recommend people look to learn more about the studies and their findings?
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RAGE monthly | JULY 2011
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