THE PLIGHT OF LGBTQ OLDER ADULTS IN SOCIETY TODAY

Study Group. 1 pm Tuesday May 23. Riverside Mall Conference Center

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Sometimes getting older can be difficult, and senior LGBTQ adults face even greater challenges. According to SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), older LGBT adults are “twice as likely to live alone, half as likely to have life partners or significant others, half as likely to have close relatives to call on for help and four times less likely to have children to help them” than straight older adults.

Please join us for our final study group Tuesday, May 23^rd to hear Benjamin Fisher, Health and Wellness Coordinator for Garden State Equality (GSE), speak on the needs of LGBTQ older adults.  Mr. Fisher has done extensive advocacy work focusing on health care access, racial justice, gun control, and LGBTQ issues and has worked for various organizations including Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in North Carolina.

Many eldercare providers have little experience working with older LGBTQ adults, and Mr. Fisher reports that research on LGBTQ older adults confirms that many aging LGBTQ adults do not feel welcomed or affirmed by eldercare providers. His organization’s “Pledge and Protect” program involves reaching out to providers and communities serving aging populations to make them aware of the history and unique needs and to help foster inclusive, welcoming and safe environments for LGBTQ older adults. GSE has developed training modules for eldercare providers to help with the transition that many LGBTQ older adults face.

The presentation will be held at the Riverside Mall Conference Center at 1 pm on Tuesday, May 23^rd.  Members will be charged $5, non-members $10.  For more information, contact Marilynn Friedman at 201-776-6311 or marisfried@aol.com.