Providing Care for an LGBTQ Senior: Top 10 Strategies and Resources to Creating an Inclusive Care Environment
Great diversity exists within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. The LGBTQ community and each of the LGBTQ groups (racial, ethnic, immigration status) has its own distinct cultural beliefs, attitudes, and practices around healthcare and caregiving. It’s important to remain aware of these nuances, as well as the fact that race, class, religious affiliation, location, and gender expression can also affect the access to care and impact the healthcare journey as a whole for the LGBTQ senior community.
7 Summer Safety Tips for Seniors in 2020
Summer is a wonderful time for gardening, cookouts, and family bonding. The heat and sun that comes with the season can be dangerous if certain precautions are not taken. In fact, according to the CDC, heat-related deaths were reported most frequently among males (5,567; 69%) and adults over age 65. Here are seven tips to help ensure you and your senior loved one stays safe during the summer months.
Virginia Seniors Only Age Once
Recently I met with a couple in their 80’s who were trying to navigate the maze of senior care and senior living options. The husband was fighting the onset of ALS symptoms that were preventing him from standing and walking by himself. The wife was the primary caregiver and in incredible shape for a woman over 80. Cognitively they were both very strong. They wanted to discuss care options and future options as his disease progressed. She had been able to handle the care to the point but pointed out she too was over 80 years old and it was getting more difficult.