Building Inclusive and Sensitive Long Term Care Services for LGBTQ Communities

Course overview

There are over 3 million older adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in the U.S. For many, the prospect of long term care provokes fear and anxiety, forcing them to consider “going back into the closet” out of concern about mistreatment by residents and staff. This one hour webinar will describe the required elements for responding to the emerging needs of long term care organizations to provide sensitive and respectful services to LGBT residents. In the webinar we will discuss relevant terminology related to sexual orientation and gender identity, discuss common challenges experienced by LGBT older adults and provide recommendations for honoring patient rights. This webinar will also satisfy new legal requirements for staff and management in long term health care to participate in LGBT sensitivity training. Objectives: Learners will be able to: • State common terms associated with sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; • Improve communication with or about LGBT individuals; • Name the health and social challenges historically faced by older LGBT persons, including discrimination in health care setting; • State the importance of professionalism in medical settings and the way caretaker attitudes affect health care access, participation, and resident physical and mental health; • Define ways to create a safe and affirming environment • State the legal and professional obligation to treat all patients in a nondiscriminatory manner. • Name the legal issues relating to LGBT persons, including but not limited to patients’ rights, civil rights, marriage and domestic partner laws, and the Nursing Home Reform Act.