Category: LGBTQ+

Windward Life Care Earns SAGECare Certification for Third Year

July 1, 2022

Windward Life Care is celebrating Pride Month by obtaining Silver Level certification with SAGECare for the third year in a row. This ongoing staff training continues to enhance Windward’s ability to support the needs of the country’s aging LGBT community.

“LGBT older adults are an underserved population. Many people do not have family to support them or advocate for them as they age or cope with chronic physical or mental health issues,” said Susan Valoff, LCSW, C-ASWCM, Vice President of Windward Life Care. “Our SAGECare certification demonstrates Windward’s commitment to personalized, respectful, and compassionate care for our LGBT clients, their caregivers, and referring professionals.”

As a division of SAGE — the country’s largest nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults — SAGECare provides LGBT competency training and consulting on LGBT aging issues to for-profit companies, non-profits, and governmental agencies. SAGECare partners with service providers to prepare a compassionate, LGBT-competent staff to address the needs of a rapidly expanding aging population. There are up to 4 million older Americans who identify as LGBT, and that number is expected to double by 2030.

LGBT older adults face a number of barriers in receiving healthcare services, a fact that contributes to their experiencing some health and mental health problems at a higher rate. LGBT older adults are less likely to seek formal supports due to past discrimination or abuse. Surveys report that older LGBT adults fear they will face harassment or unequal services in long-term care. It is thus critical that home care workers be professionally trained to work with clients who are LGBT so they feel comfortable and valued.

To earn SAGECare’s Silver Level certification, 40% of Windward’s team was trained to work with LGBT older adults. The training included the basics of what LGBT means, stories of LGBT older adults and how their lives have intersected with changes in societal views of LGBT people, and skills to work supportively with LGBT older adults and their caregivers.

“Earning our Silver Credential for the third year shows Windward Life Care’s commitment to treating its LGBTQ+ clients with dignity and respect,” said Nicholas Watson, Managing Director of Social Enterprise for SAGE. “Potential clients will also know that Windward is committed to offering culturally competent care to everyone.”

Locally owned and operated, Windward Life Care has served San Diego County’s older and disabled adults since 2004. Windward has grown to become one of the region’s most distinguished aging services providers and in 2019, 2020, and 2021 was awarded a Top Workplaces distinction by The San Diego Union-Tribune. Windward clients can access a continuum of care to meet their needs as they change over time, including geriatric care management; in-home caregiving services; and private nursing services.

About Windward Life Care

As members of the Aging Life Care Association®, Windward Life Care’s care managers specialize in dementia care, complex family situations, mental health issues, healthcare advocacy, and helping clients age well with a sense of purpose. Windward’s team of professional Home Care Aides assists clients with daily activities including meal preparation, transportation, and help with bathing and dressing. Windward’s discerning recruitment and rigorous training of professional caregivers sets it apart from other home care providers Windward Life Care’s licensed home health subsidiary, Windward Home Health, provides medication management, injections, wound care, and other skilled nursing services.

Aging Life Care™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association®. Only ALCA members are authorized to use this term to identify their services.

About SAGE
SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers. For more information about SAGECare training, visit sageusa.care.

Addressing Health Disparities in the LGBTQ+ Community

June 28, 2022

How can seniors in the LGBTQ+ community trust that healthcare providers and allied professionals will give them culturally competent care? That’s been a real concern for decades because very few large-scale, healthcare-related studies have focused on the needs of LGBTQ+ seniors. It’s one example of how social inequality translates directly to quality of care and quality of life.

“Members of the LGBT community are at increased risk for a number of health threats when compared to their heterosexual peers,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of these disparities “are associated with social and structural inequities, such as the stigma and discrimination that LGBT populations experience.”

Fortunately, we’re seeing more research being conducted, and actions being taken, to address these inequalities and ensure LGBTQ+ seniors can enjoy the same opportunities to age well that others may take for granted. For example, Vanderbilt University is conducting the first long-term study of older LGBTQ+ people in the South.

“Having a healthcare provider that you view as LGBT-affirming actually shapes your healthcare experience,” said Tara McKay, assistant professor of medicine, health, and society at Vanderbilt. “We know that this age group is hesitant to go to see a doctor. They have either personally experienced or have heard about other people’s experiences of discrimination from providers. This, on average, keeps them home longer with an illness before they seek help—making the situation worse.”

At Healthy People 2030, a project of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one of the research goals is to increase the number of national surveys that collect data on LGBTQ populations. “Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people have specific health-related challenges and disparities—and accurate data is key to identifying how to meet their health needs. But only a few national [healthcare-related] surveys include questions on sexual orientation,” says the Healthy People 2030 website. “Adding questions about sexual orientation to more surveys can help inform health promotion strategies for these groups.”

Inclusive care is proven to work. Early results from part of the Vanderbilt study noted, “Compared to participants reporting a usual source of care that is not affirming, participants with an LGBTQ+ affirming provider are more likely to have ever and recently received several types of preventative care, including routine checkups, colorectal cancer screenings, flu shot, and HIV test. Access to an LGBTQ+ affirming provider is also associated with better management of mental health conditions and a lower level of cognitive impairment.”

Here at Windward, we believe firmly in inclusive care, and we customize our care to each individual’s needs and preferences. We’re proud of our SAGECare certification at the silver level—training that demonstrates our commitment to inclusive care. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about our home care, care management, or home health services.

Alzheimer’s Can Affect the Five Senses – How You Can Help

June 6, 2022

As a caregiver for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you can do many things to make that person’s home a safer place. You’re probably already familiar with taking steps such as improving lighting in dark hallways, hiding sharp objects, decluttering, and other safety measures.

But don’t overlook the fact that people with Alzheimer’s may not see, touch, smell, taste, and/or hear things as they used to. Here are some things you can do around the house to make life safer and easier given the sensory changes your loved one might be experiencing.

Seeing

Although there may be nothing physically wrong with their eyes, people with Alzheimer’s may no longer be able to interpret accurately what they see. Their sense of perception and depth may be altered, too.

  • Remove curtains and rugs with busy patterns that may confuse the person.
  • Be careful about small pets. The person with Alzheimer’s may not see the pet and trip over it.
  • Limit the size and number of mirrors in your home. Mirror images may confuse the person with Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Have driving ability reassessed if your loved one is still driving and seems to be having trouble with depth perception or other visual changes.

Touching

People with Alzheimer’s may experience loss of sensation or may no longer be able to interpret feelings of heat, cold, or discomfort.

  • Reset the water heater to 120°F to prevent burns.
  • Label hot-water faucets red and cold-water faucets blue or write the words “hot” and “cold” near them.
  • Put signs near the oven, toaster, iron, and other things that get hot. The sign could say, “Stop!” or “Don’t Touch—Very Hot!” Be sure the sign is not so close that it could catch on fire. The person with Alzheimer’s should not use appliances without supervision. Unplug appliances when not in use. You can also remove the knobs on the stove

Smelling

A loss of or decrease in smell is common in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Use smoke detectors and be sure to check the batteries regularly. People with Alzheimer’s may not be able to smell smoke.
  • Check foods in the refrigerator often. Throw out any that have gone bad.
  • Ensure your loved one bathes regularly, and uses deodorant. People with dementia may lose track of their own hygiene, including how they smell.

Tasting

People with Alzheimer’s may not taste as well as before, or they may place dangerous or inappropriate things in their mouths.

  • Keep foods like salt, sugar, and spices away from the person if you see him or her using too much.
  • Put away or lock up things like toothpaste, lotions, shampoos, rubbing alcohol, soap, perfume, cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent pods. They may look and smell like food to a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Keep the poison control number (1-800-222-1222) handy.

Hearing

People with Alzheimer’s disease may have normal hearing, but they may lose their ability to interpret accurately what they hear. This loss may result in confusion or overstimulation.

  • Don’t play the TV, radio, or music too loudly, and don’t play them at the same time. Too many people talking at the same time may also be too much for the person with Alzheimer’s to handle.
  • Shut the windows if it’s very noisy outside.
  • If the person wears a hearing aid, check the batteries and settings often.

It may not be necessary to make all these changes. However, you should re-evaluate the safety of the person’s home as their behavior and abilities change to ensure their environment supports their current needs.

Source: National Institute on Aging

Additional resource

If you’re caring for an LGBTQ+ person who is living with dementia, you may benefit from a webinar we offered about appropriate, culturally sensitive care. You’ll find the recording here.

How to Thrive as a Solo Ager

April 19, 2022

The most important decisions older adults have to make involve how to age well. Planning for where you’ll live, anticipating any care you might need, saving for your expenses in retirement, and documenting your healthcare wishes are important for all older adults. And when you’re aging alone and/or are part of the LGBTQ+ community, planning ahead is of particular importance. Our Aging Life Care Managers® can help.

Solo agers

Solo agers are those who have no immediate family or friends who can provide support as they age. They may be a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or not. Perhaps they have no siblings or close relatives, their partner has passed away, or they live far away from family. Whatever the circumstances, they need an alternative support network – their own support team – as they age.

Ideally, the support team would include a financial power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney (also called a healthcare proxy). A trusted friend, or professional such as an elder law attorney or professional fiduciary, can fill these roles. Solo agers who develop a relationship with an Aging Life Care Professional® can be confident that their care manager will collaborate with their financial adviser, healthcare providers, and other experts involved in their care. This team of professionals, led by the care manager, can ensure that the client’s healthcare, end-of-life, and financial/estate wishes are documented and carried out.

Portrait of mature LGBTQ women on holidays at sunset. Cute healthy and tanned blonde women in her fifties living the good life. Horizontal outdoors waist up shot with sun flare and copy space.

LGBTQ+ seniors

LGBTQ+ seniors, whether they’re solo or if they have a network of chosen family members, may have limited support from biological family members. According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) and SAGE (PDF), “a reliance on chosen family, due to family rejection and legalized discrimination, creates social isolation and vulnerability for LGBT elders.”

Older LGBTQ+ adults can also face discrimination in the healthcare system, and difficulty accessing culturally sensitive and appropriate care. Because of this, it is particularly important to have an advocate like a care manager who can help with accessing resources, as well as a healthcare proxy who can legally make decisions if needed.

Beyond those basics, LGBTQ+ seniors may also be concerned about finding a welcoming, supportive place to live if they reach a point where they are unable to live independently. We can help find and evaluate long-term care options. SAGE, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people, also offers a number of resources. Their National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative works with builders nationwide to develop LGBTQ+ friendly senior housing.

The importance of advance planning

Solo agers, whether they are within the LGBTQ+ community or not, can take proactive steps to plan for a positive aging experience. Advance planning can give you the confidence that you’re prepared for what may come and that you can age with dignity. When selecting professionals to partner with, consider their training and expertise. Windward Life Care is proud to have certification from SAGECare, a demonstration of our commitment to working with LGBTQ+ clients, caregivers, and community organizations.

Windward Earns SAGECare Certification for Competency in Caring for Aging LGBT People

June 1, 2021

The Windward Life Care and Windward Home Health team is proud to announce we have earned a Silver Level Certification for 2021 from SAGECare. The certification recognizes our team’s cultural competency and training in serving San Diego County’s LGBTQ+ community.

“This recognition from SAGECare is especially meaningful to us during Pride month,” said Susan Valoff, LCSW, C-ASWCM, CDP, vice president of Windward Life Care. “We know that LGBTQ+ seniors face unique challenges and discrimination when seeking caregiving solutions, senior housing options, and other aging-related services. Windward’s commitment to understanding these challenges and helping our valued clients navigate them is a hallmark of our supportive care.”

SAGECare is a division of SAGE, a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers. SAGECare Silver Level certification recognizes healthcare and social service agencies where 40% of employees and administrators have participated in LGBTQ+ aging-related training, delivered by a SAGECare-approved trainer. SAGECare credentials are earned annually.

“We are honored to have received Silver Level certification for the second year in a row,” said Valoff. “At Windward Life Care and Windward Home Health, we assess each client’s goals and care needs to develop a customized plan of care. We take into account the client’s unique identity, including their religious/spiritual beliefs, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, and family structure.”

Windward Life Care Earns SAGECare Certification

June 24, 2020

Windward Life Care has just received another feather in its cap in time for Pride Month. San Diego County’s premier aging services firm has earned a Silver Level certification with SAGECare, enhancing Windward’s ability to support the needs of the county’s LGBT community.

“LGBT older adults are an underserved population. Many people do not have family to support them or advocate for them as they age or cope with chronic physical or mental health issues,” said Susan Valoff, LCSW, C-ASWCM, CDP, Vice President of Windward Life Care. “Our SAGECare certification demonstrates that Windward’s commitment to personalized, compassionate care includes our LGBT clients, prospective clients, and referring professionals.”

As a division of SAGE — the country’s largest nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults — SAGECare provides LGBT competency training and consulting on LGBT aging issues to organizations throughout the United States. SAGECare partners with service providers to prepare a compassionate, LGBT-competent staff to address the needs of a rapidly expanding aging population — the roughly 4 million older Americans who identify as LGBT is expected to double by 2030.

LGBT older adults face a number of barriers in receiving healthcare services, a fact that contributes to their experiencing many health and mental health problems at a higher rate. LGBT older adults are less likely to seek formal supports due to past discrimination or abuse. Surveys report older LGBT adults fear they will face harassment or unequal services in long-term care. It is thus critical that home care workers be professionally trained to work with LGBT clients so they feel comfortable and valued.

To earn SAGECare’s Silver Level certification, 40% of Windward’s team was trained to work with LGBT older adults. The training included the basics of what LGBT means, the societal views of LGBT people over time, and skills to work supportively with LGBT older adults.

“I want to congratulate Windward Life Care on completing our LGBT aging cultural competency training,” said Timothy Johnston, Ph.D., SAGE’s Senior Director of National Projects. “Windward’s SAGECare credential will let existing and potential home care LGBT clients know they will be treated with dignity and respect.”

Locally owned and operated, Windward Life Care recently celebrated 15 years of serving San Diego County’s older and disabled adults. Windward has grown to become one of the region’s most distinguished aging services providers and in 2019 earned a Top Workplaces distinction from The San Diego Union-Tribune. As members of the Aging Life Care Association®, Windward’s care managers specialize in dementia care, complex family situations, mental health issues, healthcare advocacy, and helping clients age well with a sense of purpose. Its recently launched subsidiary, Windward Home Health, has added licensed skilled nursing to Windward’s many services.

About Windward Life Care
Windward Life Care is San Diego County’s premier aging services firm, providing Aging Life Care™ Management, expert in-home care, and skilled nursing services. Windward’s discerning recruitment and rigorous training of professional caregivers set it apart from other home care providers. The interdisciplinary professional team at Windward is composed of leaders in the Aging Life Care Association®.

AGING LIFE CARE™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association®. Only ALCA Members are authorized to use this term to identify their services.

About SAGE
SAGE is the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older people. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers. For more information about SAGECare training, visit sageusa.care.