The Singular Needs of LGBT Seniors in San Francisco

LGBT advocates in San Francisco hope policy changes stemming from growing awareness of gender identities and sexual orientation will lead to beneficial changes in professional caregiving for LGBT seniors, especially those with dementia, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . The city, via its Department of Aging and Adult Services, is funding a $400,000 effort to train hundreds of workers at companies and public agencies on how to better communicate with LGBT seniors. The training is offered to home care aides and staffers at senior communities, as well as to organizations that engage with seniors regularly, such as Meals on Wheels and public transit employees. San Francisco's Human Services Agency reports that about 12 percent of seniors age 60 and older in the Bay Area identify as LGBT, amounting to about 19,200 persons. LGBT seniors are more likely to live by themselves, and only 15 percent have children, who are often their default caregivers. The Alzheimer's Association of Northern California's Edie Yau says many worry that disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity to caregivers or peers in a care community may lead to discrimination, while some with dementia revert to a previous period in their life, before they came out, making talks with family and aides confusing and frustrating. On July 1, a new state law will come into effect requiring programs funded by some state health and aging agencies to gather data on the gender identity and sexual orientation of people who use their services. Disclosure is voluntary, with the data aggregated and anonymized to help spot gaps in care for older LGBT adults in the health and social services system.