The
Administration on Aging (AoA) today announced that it would release
important new guidance that empowers AoA-funded aging providers to
consider lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults as a
population of “greatest social need”—paving the way for increased
services that can significantly improve their health and well-being. The
Human Rights Campaign and Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
partnered to urge AoA to provide this guidance.
"SAGE applauds this critically important step taken by the
Administration on Aging to recognize that LGBT older people have acute
needs and to ensure that services are available to meet those needs,"
said Michael Adams, Executive Director of SAGE. "We look forward to
working with the Administration on Aging to continue to improve the
availability of appropriate services to LGBT elders across the country."
“This step brings much-needed attention to the unique needs of LGBT
older adults, and the urgent actions we must all take to preserve their
dignity,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “AoA’s actions today are a
crucial step toward ensuring that this generation has equal access to
the services and resources that they deserve. HRC applauds AoA for its
leadership, and we will look forward to working with them through
implementation.”
The FAQ guidance clarifies that the current definition of “greatest
social need” in the Older Americans Act—the country's leading vehicle
for funding and delivering services to older people nationwide—allows
communities to identify populations in their service area that
experience isolation for cultural, social or geographic reasons. The
guidance provides specific examples of these populations, including
increased need based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
LGBT older adults are at an increased risk for social isolation,
experience poor health and health access, and face higher poverty rates
than other seniors. Despite this increased need, this group is less
likely to seek federal assistance and healthcare due to actual and
perceived discrimination. This FAQ guidance allows the aging networks
that serve LGBT older adults and receive AoA funding to consider this
vulnerable population as one with a “greatest social need.” This
designation will encourage Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to include LGBT
older adults when prioritizing funding, engaging in outreach,
evaluating unmet needs and collecting data.
This announcement is the latest action taken by the AoA to address LGBT
elders’ unique needs. In January 2010, SAGE received a historic grant
from the Administration on Aging to establish the National Resource
Center on LGBT Aging (lgbtagingcenter.org), the country’s only technical
assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services
and supports offered to LGBT older adults. With a wealth of multimedia
resources for aging providers, the National Resource Center will be a
key resource for AAAs as they implement the guidance.
