Visibility Matters
As LGBTQI+ people age and need supportive services to meet their aging goals, many of them question whether it is safe to share with their providers that they are LGBTQI+ due to stigma they have witnessed and experienced over their lifetimes.
Visibility Matters
Aging with Pr i de
To learn more or schedule a training, contact Sarah Bahnson at sbahnson@pcoa.org To register for a virtual community training visit VisibilityMatters.pcoa.org.
By Sarah Bahnson , PCOA LGBTQ Community Liaison The most important part of Advance Care Planning (ACP) is having regular conversations about values and wishes with your loved ones, especially those you designate to speak and advocate for you. These designees, known as your healthcare proxies, are often family members like a spouse or child. The Visibility Matters training helps care providers gain the tools needed to create a safe place for LGBTQI+ people to be their authentic selves so that providers can meet their unique needs. The training provides information about how to be more aware, sensitive, and responsive to LGBTQI+ older people and their families. Visibility Matters is an excellent training Arizona Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults 520-312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org; soazseniorpride.org All in-person events require masks and vaccinations, bring your card. choose other relatives. Others experience stigma and discrimination in their family However, for many LGBTQI+ older adults (who are twice as likely to be single and living alone, and four times less likely to have children) identifying healthcare proxies may be difficult and unclear. In lieu of partners or children, some
On-going events: Registration is required for attendance - soazseniorpride.org GBTQI+ Mens Loss Group ; weekly on Tuesday; 1:30–3pm; in-person Elder Discussion/Support Group ; second Saturday; 1:30–3pm; in-person often resulting in significant illness. For those without a clear health proxy choice, documenting wishes and values (in a Living Will and/or Pre-Hospital Directive) and registering them becomes structures, and contentious relationships with family of origin may mean their wishes and identities are at risk of being erased. LGBTQI+ individuals who are unable to talk about end of life wishes with trusted family may consider a general practitioner the next best option. However, systemic barriers present unique challenges. Research shows that stigma and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people causes reticence to engage in medical care. This means that LGBTQI+ adults are more likely to delay or avoid medical care, for long term care facilities, medical professionals, senior centers, in-home care providers, case managers, or anyone serving older people in Pima County. Visibility Matters offers three tracks: two-hour standard training, a three-hour LGBTQI+ dementia training, or a one-hour overview. All trainings are available virtually and in-person (depending on COVID-19 protocols) and are free of charge.
Advance Care Planning Protects LGBTQI+ Older Adults
the best way to make their wishes known. Even with unexpected events, these documents provide a road map for medical professionals to ensure wanted medical care is administered and/or unwanted medical care is withheld. ACP documents can also protect a person from family members that may want to make decisions on behalf of the patient that are unwanted or disrespectful, such as using a person’s dead name or incorrect pronoun. Whether one is LGBTQI+ or not, many will find themselves in a position without a clear health proxy choice. Documenting and registering your values and wishes to guide those that will be making decisions on your behalf is the best way to ensure that your choices and legacies are carried forward. Southern Book Club ; third Wednesday; 2–3:30pm - on Zoom Gathering in Himmel Park ; third Saturday; 10–11:30am; in-person There are more events each month. Stay tuned in on the website.
Page 32 | March 2022, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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