I’m Coming Out in Support of LGBT Residents Presented by Joseph Rodrigues & Sherrill Wayland Copyright ©2018, SAGE, All Rights Reserved 1

Plan for today Discuss challenges faced by LGBT residents Learn of tools to assist residents including LGBT residents with documenting their personal choices for quality living Gain skills to advocate for LGBT resident - person directed care.

What We Know Many LGBT older adults lack traditional caregiving supports Many report shrinking social networks Concern with coming out in health settings Continued fear of stigma and discrimination

Concerns And lgbt older adults

Stigma, Discrimination, Abuse & Neglect 5 Stigma, Discrimination, Abuse & Neglect https://youtu.be/d8qd7-pq0E8

LGBT Older Adults Are… Twice as likely to be single 6 LGBT Older Adults Are… Twice as likely to be single 3-4 times less likely to have children Frequently estranged from families of origin 2010 Map report, 2014 Out & Visible

Circles of Support for LGBT Residents Acquaintance Community Influence/ Professional Intimate Self Who is in YOUR Circle Acquaintance – neighbors, volunteers, co-workers Community – social groups, support groups, sports and social clubs, church/spiritual groups Influence – doctor, attorney, social worker, financial planner, etc. Intimate – spouse/significant other, current and past lovers, families of choice and biological families 7

My Personal Directions for Quality Living Adapted in 2018 with a cultural lens inclusive of LGBT residents to include: Pronoun and name usage Describe dress and daily grooming routines Describe life history Document important cultural traditions, celebrations and spiritually Discuss important relationships beyond next of kin. http://bit.ly/2y0ExyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxm2Zr WzZk

Resident Rights & LGBT People Free from Abuse Right to Privacy Receive Visitors Participate in Activities Participate in Care Be Fully Informed Choice Remain in home http://bit.ly/2pzBb19

What does the Ombudsman representative need to do in this situation What does the Ombudsman representative need to do in this situation? What Resident Rights Should be Considered? Juanita lives at Colonial Acres Continuing Care Retirement Community.  She has lived in independent living for three years, moving into assisted living two years ago.  Her health has continued to decline and about a month ago, she moved into a semi-private room in the skilled nursing facility.  Recently, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.  Juanita is seeking palliative and hospice care.  Because of her pain medications, she is in and out of consciousness. Your Ombudsman program receives an anonymous complaint about an unrelated male and female sharing a room.  The caller works at the facility and demands the two be separated.  She is going to call Licensing as well.  You go out to investigate the complaint.  You visit the room mentioned in the complaint and finds two female residents.  Confused, you run into the Director of Nursing and Administrator outside the room and disclose that you received a complaint about an unrelated male and female sharing a room, but you are at a loss to identify the residents.   At this point, the Administrator asks you to come to his office, so you can discuss. The Administrator discloses to you that that Juanita identifies as transgender and lives as a woman. Residents and staff in independent living and assisted living were aware of this, as well as Juanita’s roommate in the skilled nursing facility.  He suspects the complaint was from an employee assigned to care for Juanita, read information in her medical record, and was uncomfortable providing care to Juanita.  

Thank you Joseph Rodrigues Joseph.Rodrigues@aging.ca.gov Sherrill Wayland swayland@sageusa.org