Community Initiatives:

Summary of Elder Summit Breakout Groups

Gaps, Barriers, and Needs

Lack of sensitive health care/ service assessments/ forms 
Lack of LGBT friendly/ open/ respectful health care services; need for LGBT friendly Hospice 
Being in the closet/ inhibiting self-disclosure; invisibility to providers and others; "complexity of being out"; fear of being out/ discrimination in health care institutions 
Taboo in dealing with sexual issues in general by health care institutions 
Need for case managers/ family caregivers
Lack of advocacy, public voice
Lack of regulatory/ legal support and protection; lack of legal status/ rights for life partners (HCPOA, real estate, health insurance)
Need for education of policy makers on LGBT issues
Lack of spiritual/ religious support
Lack of access to social services provided by religious groups
Barriers/ biases in workplace; no diversity training
Lack of education and training for providers/ RSCs on LGBT issues
Minority CNAs may have cultural bias against LGBT people
Absence of LGBT Community Center
Lack of social opportunities, venues; limited participation in activities
Need for resource guide for LGBT friendly services/ providers
Discrimination in housing/ lack of LGBT friendly; need for new care models in long term care/ assisted living    
No organization to represent elder LGBT people
Lack of knowledge among providers about gerontology in addition to about LGBT issues
Need for senior centers to be inclusive/ open to LGBT people
Lack of demographic data on elder LGBT community/ no way to reach community
Lack of sense of community among LGBT elders
Lack of knowledge about, problems assessing, and reluctance to use social services
Small social networks, mainly socialize in homes
Loneliness
Lack of individualization when addressing LGBT elder issues
No intergenerational activities

Recommendations for Action

Support for those who provide services to LGBT people 
Integrated service/ facilities 
Establish a web presence 
Education/ training program for providers, students, housing residents and staff, senior centers e.g. SAGE, Opening Doors 
Get better data on LGBT elder community/ obtain money for another survey
LGBT resource guide/ identify agencies/ providers as LGBT friendly
Lobbying, regulation change/ advocate for legal rights/ information to lawmakers
Collaborate with other groups to address LGBT issues e.g. DEA Community Advocacy group, AARP, Pflag for Seniors
Empower LGBT people 
Increase visibility of LGBT people; take personal responsibility; LGBT outreach to community
Education to LGBT elders about legal resources to protect themselves e.g. HCPOA
Set concrete goals e.g. change admission forms
Team to review agencies' policies/ forms
Increase intergenerational activities and training
Boomer Pride based on AARP model
High school GSA model for LGBT people in senior centers
Fund a case manager to reach out/ identify a person in direct care agencies to work with LGBT issues
Change programs to be LGBT friendly
Outreach/ advocacy to LGBT elders from church leaders; increase spiritual providers to LGBT elders
Community building/ sponsor activities
Community center accessible to all in state
Ombudsperson

Resources Available

Long term care organizations for lobbying and organizing 
Advocacy program - Alliance for Better Long Term Care 
Labor unions - Pride at Work 
Alliance between Senior Agenda and SAGE 
Politicians, private sector leaders as allies
CEU programs on LGBT issues for professionals and in professional education; partner with drug companies to sponsor
Increase use of students for education to agencies and LGBT people
Collaboration with Youth Pride (offered space)
Increase LGBT issues in long term care resident initiatives
DEA model for using volunteers
Senior to Senior peer mentoring
Big Bay Al's Bowling venue
Increase spiritual providers to LGBT elders (Rev. Anderson, RI Council of Churches)
RI Housing - process for dealing with complaints
RIGEC as educational resource
New housing models, community and institutional e.g. Green House, Boston Stonewall
Community support resources
Expert consultant
Increase volunteerism

Resources Needed

Need people power to get things done 
Need money for projects 

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