My mother does [my answering machine messages] sometimes and then it’s really funny. Once she did, ‘Carrie can’t come to the phone right now cause I’ve gotten back together with her father and we’re trying to raise her right’ and she did one singing ‘Tammy’ and I’m screaming in the background like I’m being tortured. - Carrie Fisher, 1993.

The 519 has a long history of working to build inclusive care environments for older LGBTQ people, including delivering training to care providers. Given the aging population in Canada, we want to continue to build upon those efforts.

The current generation of older LGBTQ people have experienced a lifetime of discrimination due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and they face very specific challenges as they age:

- They are less likely to seek health care when they need it;

- They often do not disclose their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression to their care providers for fear of discrimination;

- They report more feelings of isolation from their communities;

- They are at a higher risk for negative health outcomes later in life, including depression, suicide, substance abuse, smoking, etc.  

(Brotman & Ryan, 2008)

The 519 Education and Training Team offer workshops and resources that support safe, welcoming and inclusive care environments for LGBTQ older people. The training supports organizations and individuals to understand the needs of older LGBTQ people. Workshops will help participants to:

- Identify and discuss reasons an older LGBTQ person may be distrustful of the health or social care systems and/or reluctant to seek the care they need;

- Demonstrate and share an empathetic understanding of the barriers faced by older LGBTQ people;

- Make appropriate use of pronouns;

- Propose ways to foster a safe and LGBTQ-inclusive care environment for older people, their friends and chosen families.

For more information about training and resources, please contact:

Steven Little

Manager, Education and Training

416-355-6772

slittle@the519.org

#respectyourelders #nobystanders