1st Edition

Welcoming LGBT Residents A Practical Guide for Senior Living Staff

By Tim R. Johnston Copyright 2020
    116 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    116 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Welcoming LGBT Residents is the first comprehensive guide to working with LGBT older adults in senior living settings.

    The LGBT older adult population represents one of the fastest-growing subpopulations within our aging society. Despite the increasing demand for LGBT-affirming services there is an absence of training books for care providers. This dual-purpose text is appropriate for training and as a guide to answer questions that may come up during daily tasks. It is based on the most recent research and includes stories and testimonials from LGBT older adults and providers in the field. Chapters include:

    • LGBT-inclusive intake and conversations;

    • Gender identity and expression;

    • Memory care and LGBT people;

    • Navigating family dynamics;

    • Addressing conflict between residents;

    • Staff opinions, beliefs, and training.

    This timely book will be of interest to professional care providers, from long-term care nurses and assisted living administrators to staff in retirement communities, as well as students in gerontology, health care administration, and social work courses.

    Foreword by Rabbi Erica Steelman  Introduction - How to Read this Book  1. Getting to Know LGBT Older Adults  2. First Impressions  3. Move-In Day and Collecting Information  4. LGBT Programming and Services  5. Staff Opinions, Beliefs, and Training  6. Addressing Bullying and Conflict Between Residents  7. Navigating Family Dynamics  8. Sexuality and Sexual Health  9. Bisexuality and Aging  10. Gender Identity and Expression  11. Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS  12. Dementia, LGBT Older Adults, and LGBT Caregivers  13. Rights and Protections  14. Strategic Planning and Diversifying the Board  Conclusion – It Starts with You!

    Biography

    Tim R. Johnston is the Senior Director of National Projects for SAGE, the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people.

    "Tim Johnston's book is a timely, grounded, and most importantly useful guide for how to make our services more open to LGBT seniors. It can serve as a reference text for leadership staff and also an accessible educational tool for students and staff. I would encourage anyone working with older adults, not only those working in senior living, to take a look and see what they can learn." — Paula Basta, Director of the Illinois Department of Aging and Former Chair of the LGBT Aging Issues Network of the American Society on Aging.

    "For far too long, LGBT older people have encountered bias, stigma, and discrimination across the senior living environment. In response to this profound problem, Tim Johnston has written a comprehensive and accessible resource for the entire eldercare workforce—one that acknowledges that many LGBT older people live at the intersection of multiple identities, and they, as much as anyone, deserve to have a place they can call ‘home.’" Robert Espinoza, Vice President of Policy, PHI

    "Combining current research, best practices, and his own experiences training providers across the country, Dr. Johnston has created a road map for providers of services and supports to create safe and affirming environments where LGBTQ older adults can thrive. This comprehensive text is a valuable guide and resource for any provider looking to make their organization a place where older adults, their families and staff can be who they are, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity." — Kevin Bradley, Associate Director of Online Learning, LeadingAge

    "With an extensive background in advocacy and training, the author has significant experience and working knowledge of the needs of older LGBT adults. The history of LGBT people includes discrimination, criminality, being considered deviant or mentally ill and subjected to inappropriate medical "therapies". This coupled with the dearth of research into the needs of older LGBT adults makes this publication most welcome. Raising awareness of the uniqueness of each person and alerting care providers to the fact that LGBT people are not a homogenous group can only be a positive contributor to the provision of ‘safer and more inclusive spaces." — Patricia MacGabhann BNS (Hons) HDip Gerontology MSc Science MHSc Specialist Nursing (National University of Ireland, Galway) Clinical and Operational Director, Nightingale Nursing Home.

    "This book presents significant insights into creating inclusive environments for older LGBT people. It will also enable professionals to respond appropriately to challenging situations in residential care homes." — Dr Ralf Lottmann, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the University of Surrey, UK (Research Project: ‘Ageing & Diversity: LGBT* Housing and Long-term Care’).