Planning with Purpose: Legal Basics for LGBT Elders

From Reynaldo Mireles, SAGE of the Rockies Program Manager:

LGBT elders often do not access adequate health care, affordable housing or other social services that they need due to institutionalized heterosexism. Existing regulations and proposed policy changes in programs like Social Security or Medicare, which impact millions of LGBT elders, are discussed without a LGBT perspective engaging the debate. Even the most basic rights such as hospital visitation or the right to die in the same nursing home are regularly denied same-sex partners.

The National Resource Center of LGBT aging has written a guide that includes information about issues related to relationship recognition, finances, health care, long term care, Medicare and Medicaid, planning for the care of minor or disabled children, inheritance, elder abuse, and discrimination against LGBT elders. Read more at lgbtagingcenter.org.

SAGE of the Rockies offers new programs for 2011

There will be several new SAGE of the Rockies programs debuting in January 2011, including:

The SAGE Rx Medication Management Project involves our own Tom Simpleman, a Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, who will review prescribed medication, dietary supplements, over-the-counter medication, etc., with individual SAGE members.  The focus will be to determine if the medication is appropriate, if it is being used properly to receive the maximum benefit, and if any changes might be indicated. Various aspects of the process will be documented over time to determine the effectiveness of the meetings.  The project will include all aspects of HIPPA confidentiality.  There is no cost for participating in the project. To learn more, click here.

A new Grief Support Group: Tumaini Rising: Restoring Hope After the Loss of a Partner or Significant Other. It will be offered every Thursday, beginning Jan. 20, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Leadership Suite at The Center. It will be led by Brian Bowles, clinical director, Compassion Road ( www.compassionroad.com ) Click here to learn more.

 SAGEWorks!!  SAGE of the Rockies is a participant in a new project provided through the national SAGE program, called SAGEWorks.  In short, the program is designed to help older LGBT individuals increase job skills, and find employment opportunities when desired. The job skills (job readiness) piece is open to all older adults, whether looking for work or not. The primary component is computer literacy, and this will begin in January with weekly computer skills training classes, taught by computer whiz Steve Erway in The Center's wonderful new Cyber Center.  The training curriculum is provided by Older Adults Technology Services, and is specifically geared to the learning style of older people.  Call Ken, 303.951.5222, for more information, or contact the Center's front desk, 303.733.7743, to sign up for the classes (space is limited to 10 students).  There is no charge for taking a class.

Benefits QuickLINK: The AARP Foundation and The Center are proud to announce a partnership to offer Benefits QuickLINK screenings and application assistance at The Center.  Specially trained volunteers will conduct screenings for older, low-income individuals or their family members to help determine if they may be eligible to receive public benefits.  The individual screened will receive a report indicating the benefit programs for which the individual may be eligible to apply, and the relevant applications.  The volunteer will provide the individual screened with information about how to receive additional assistance with the application process if necessary, and when needed, begin the application process with the participant.  We will have specified hours during the week when the volunteer support will be available, and appointments will be scheduled during that time. Call Ken for more details.

SAGE of the Rockies will also have your old favorites back in 2011 including:
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD - "La Fanciulla del West" by Puccini

Saturday, January 8th

This month we will enjoy a really fun opera by Puccini..."La Fanciulla del West" (The Girl of the Golden West), with Deborah Voigt in the starring role.  We will meet for breakfast at The Delectable Egg (1625 Court Place), and then go over to the Pavilions Theater for a live broadcast of what has been described as the "original spaghetti western."  (Tickets are $22).  RSVP to Ken by Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Telling Your Story Project

Mondays - 1:30 - 3:00 PM

The Center - Victory Room

Tuesday Morning Coffee 

10:00 - Noon    Weekly

The Center - Stonewall Room

Caregiver Support GroupJanuary 5^th and 19^th  (First and third Wednesdays - ongoing)

1:30 - 3:00 PM

The Center - Victory Room

Medications and Aging - Why the concern with Cholesterol?Friday - January 17^th 

1:30 - 3:00 P.M.

The Center - Stonewall Room

 

Matt Kailey to speak on panel at SAGE of the Rockies conference on GLBT aging today

Author and trans activist Matt Kailey will be on a panel today at the SAGE of the Rockies conference on GLBT aging 'Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Choosing to Live Well' that will address the unique needs and concerns of transgender and transsexual elders.

The conference itself addresses the needs and concerns of the entire LGBT community as we age.

I spoke to Kailey about the conference yesterday and he spoke on some of the topics that the conference will touch on and why they are important.

"Aging is of special importance to our community because we still suffer prejudice and discrimination within the medical, health care and aging services communities," said Kailey. "For same-sex couples, imagine having your partner go to a nursing home and not being allowed access to information or the same types of visitation that a straight partner would have. And what if you both moved into an assisted living facility or a nursing care facility and were not allowed to be in the same room? Also, there are concerns about how we might be treated by staff when they discover that we are LGBT. There are inheritance and other legal concerns. We have many unique needs that this conference will address."

SAGE of the Rockies conference on aging begins today

The first regional SAGE of the Rockies conference on LGBT aging, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Choosing to Live Well," is designed to give people the tools they need to plan and be prepared so as they grow older, their lives are healthy and safe.

The conference starts Friday at 1 p.m. and runs through Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place.

The conference -- produced by The Center's SAGE of the Rockies program -- will feature nearly 30 breakout sessions on topics ranging from financial and estate planning to staying connected through social media. By the end of the conference, participants will have an "action blueprint" to help them move toward the kind of LGBT community that will help them thrive and grow older with confidence.

It would be wise to attend the SAGE conference this weekend

The first regional SAGE of the Rockies conference on LGBT aging takes place this weekend and is designed to give people the tools they need to plan and be prepared so as they grow older, their lives are healthy and safe and they are surrounded by people who care.

The conference will feature nearly 30 breakout sessions on topics ranging from financial and estate planning to housing options to staying connected through social media. By the end of the conference, participants will have an "action blueprint" to help them move toward the kind of LGBT community that will help them thrive and grow older with confidence.

Denver's John J. Kelly featured on Gay Military Signal

Denver gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) activist John J. Kelly (pictured) was recently featured on the cover of the Gay Military Signal - aweb publication is dedicated to providing a voice to the ongoing efforts to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Kelly shares this month’s cover with Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate, who recently was discharged after coming out on MSNBC and chaining himself to the White House gates. The publication has a national subscription of over 30,000.

Kelly's story tells of his personal experience with gay harassment while stationed in North Africa in 1960. The juxtaposition of the two histories is striking in the fact that their stories are still revenant despite the fifty years between them. In response to being featured along side Lt. Choi, Kelly said “It’s ironic after all this time, that I share this attention with someone who is publicly leading a fight that just could not have happened fifty years ago. The shame is the same, but we had to do it in silence. It’s a disgrace that so many things have changed yet they remain so much the same.”

Kelly is currently active with the SAGE of the Rockies program at the GLBT Center and was recently appointed to the Denver GLBT Commission.

SAGE of the Rockies

March is a very active month for SAGE of the Rockies so check out all the happenings and goings on right here.

SAGE of the Rockies

March will be a very active month for SAGE of the Rockies with many exciting ways to be involved. Please click here to check out the SAGE of the Rockies March calendar on The Center's web site including information on the next planning meetings for the upcoming GLBT Aging Conference.

SAGE of the Rockies 2010

The Center's Elders program is now SAGE of the Rockies and planning for the regional conference on GLBT aging is in full swing.

Keep up with the happenings and feel free to send your thoughts and ideas to SAGE of the Rockies Coordinator Ken Helander at khelander@glbtcolorado.org.