Sooner after learning about a new documentary focusing on LGBT discrimination in long-term care and health care settings, I heard about Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of a Department of Health and Human Services, announcing the award of a new, 3-year $900,000 grant to Services and Advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders (SAGE) for the creation of the first national resource center on LGBT aging.
SAGE began advocacy work in 1978 when it was incorporated as the Senior Action in a Gay Environment. SAGE bills itself as the largest and oldest non-profit agency serving the needs of this population group. They are forming a partnership to administer the grant with 10 organizations having different areas of expertise on aging issues. Those organizations include:
- PHI – an elder care training resource
- National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- National Institute of Senior Centers
- American Society on Aging
- Brookdale Center for Health Aging and Longevity
- Centerlink (the national association of LGBT community centers)
- GRIOT Circle
- FORGE Transgender Aging Network
- Third Sector New England/The LGBT Aging Project
- Openhouse
The creation of The National Technical Assistance Resource Center for LGBT Elders is intended to help create services and supports for aging LGBT people. The Center will offer trainings and educational tools to agencies across all 50 states. One such tool will be a comprehensive, web-based resource for web-based trainings and information. From the press release:
Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee explained: “AoA frequently turns to national organizations to support the Aging Network in their efforts to work with specific minority populations that are traditionally underserved. In the past, AoA has funded national organizations to provide technical assistance on providing supports and services to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and Native Americans. With the full support of the current Administration, we now recognize that LGBT older adults also represent a community with unique needs that must be addressed.”
