Massachusetts Protects LGBT Elders

The Massachusetts Legislature has passed “An Act Relative to LGBT Awareness Training for Aging Services Providers” becoming the only state in the country to require that all state funded or licensed providers of services to older adults complete training in how to provide meaningful care to LGBT older adults & ensure that LGBT older adults can access services. Lisa Krinsky, LICSW, Director of Fenway Health’s LGBT Aging Project stated, “It’s impossible to overstate what this is going to mean for LGBT older adults in Massachusetts. LGBT people are significantly more likely to age alone without a spouse or partner or children to support them. They are more reliant on formal caregivers such as home health workers & visiting nurses or assisted living communities. They have valid fears about experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity & expression & some even feel the need to go back into the closet.” The new legislation requires the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) develops a training program for providers of elder services on how to prevent discrimination against older adults based on sexual orientation & gender identity & expression & on how to improve access to services for LGBT elders & caregivers. The law also requires all providers of aging services who contract with or receive funding from MassHealth’s office of long-term care or EOEA or whose services are certified by EOEA, to complete the training program. California has a similar law but training is limited only to those working in the field of long-term care.
For More Info: fenwayhealth.org
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