Visibility Matters
Visibility Matters
Visibility Matters Training Broadens Scope of LGBTQI+ and Aging Education
Visibility Matters
By Sarah Bahnson , LGBTQI+ Initiatives Specialist For over a decade, PCOA has been dedicated to supporting aging care providers to improve services to LGBTQI+ people. Beginning with Project Visibility trainings in 2012, and delivered to residential facilities, PCOA has been instrumental in skills development for community aging care staff. To continue growing the abilities of our area aging care providers PCOA created Visibility Matters (VM), a suite of cultural awareness trainings. Designed with the person- centered practices that guide Pima County’s service organizations, this suite of trainings helps care providers gain the tools needed to create a safe, welcoming place for LGBTQI+ people to feel comfortable accessing and receiving meaningful care and support. Since its inception in 2020, Visibility Matters has been a selection of four training options: VM Standard Training, VM Dementia Edition, VM Overview, and VM Supporting Trans-Affirming Housing. Each one of these options is an excellent starting point toward individual and So. AZ Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults (520) 312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org There are many events each month, so check out our website: soazseniorpride.org Masks now optional for all in-person, indoor events organizational shifts in aging care services intended to help reduce the adverse gaps in health and wellbeing outcomes for
On-going events: Advance registration required to attend: soazseniorpride.org GBTQI+ Mens Loss Group ; weekly on Tuesday; 1:30–3pm; in-person LBTQI+ Women’s Grief Support ; weekly on Monday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person Gayme Day ; second Tuesday; 1–3pm; in-person ethical marketing, and more, • access to PCOA’s LGBTQI+ reference lending library, which includes dozens of titles on LGBTQI+ health, mental health, preparing advanced directives, palliative and hospice care, and more. Visibility Matters is designed to directly respond to the needs of our aging care providers’ efforts to improve services to LGBTQI+ older adults. But it is just that, a starting point. PCOA is proud to announce the upcoming Visibility Matters program expansion to include additional support to aging care organizations invested in making a difference for LGBTQI+ older adults. The program expansion will include: • Support with organizational assessments, helping each organization identify its strengths, and weaknesses, and prioritize opportunities to improve services to this community, • Coaching will be available to participating organizations to respond to specific needs, • Continuing education and discussion groups to improve specific skills, like practicing pronouns, updating forms,
Aging with Pride
Improving Aging Care for LGBTQI+ Older Adults A Cultural Responsiveness Program
Book Club ; third Wednesday; 2–3:30pm; via Zoom Gathering in Himmel Park ; third Saturday; time varies; in-person Walk and Roll ; Enjoy an outdoor activity with friendly people; third Monday; time varies; in-person Community Potluck ; last Saturday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person LGBTQI+ older adults. Providers who help LGBTQI+ older adults feel seen, cared for, and safe are leaders in aging care services. How well does your organization serve LGBTQI+ people? Would you like to provide a more welcoming environment for LGBTQI+ older adults? To learn more about participating in the new Visibility Matters program expansion, please contact us at visibilitymatters@pcoa.org.
November/December 2023, Never Too Late | Page 29
Pima Council on Aging
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