Retirement is meant to be a stress-free and relaxing time of your life where you can settle down and enjoy hobbies, travel, or spend time with family. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, retirement looks very similar, but you’ll need to make some extra adjustments to ensure you can receive LGBT-friendly healthcare and living spaces. Sometimes, you’ll need additional healthcare and supervision in daily life as you age, requiring a nursing home or in-home aide. LGBTQ+ adults need to know how to find safe and accessible long-term care should they or a loved one need it.
Assess Your Needs
When the time has come for you to find long-term care during retirement, you’ll need to choose the right option for you. There are many types of long-term care options, from home caregivers to nursing homes, and many options within those categories. If you prefer to stay at home while a qualified caregiver visits you, it may be ideal to consider an at-home nurse. You will want to find a provider that won’t discriminate against you as an LGBTQ+ patient. If you have any healthcare needs, like transgender hormone therapy, a caregiver will need to be able to administer this medication without issue.
If you’d like your long-term care to include housing, social activities, meals, and other amenities, a nursing home community may be your best bet. Nursing homes can also provide hazard-free living spaces, enrichment, memory care, and transportation when necessary. Communities will need to be LGBT-tolerant as well. List your needs and wants in long-term care and compare your options.
Choose LGBT-Friendly Retirement Communities
If you decide to take advantage of a retirement community, like assisted living or nursing homes, you will want to ensure they are inclusive and accepting of you as an LGBTQ+ senior. You don’t want to feel unsafe in a community where you’re already vulnerable. Thankfully, there are many ways to ensure you’ll be included and respected in the nursing home you choose.
Check Reviews and Ratings
Reviews and ratings are a key factor when it comes to evaluating a community. Many people will leave a review if they had a particularly good or bad experience. You can even search some review platforms for terms like ‘lgbt,’ ‘inclusive,’ or ‘gay’ to see if any other residents left a review mentioning these terms. Official Medicare ratings are also important to see if a community has any issues regarding abuse, sanitation, or neglect.
Tour the Community
A tour will tell you a lot about a nursing home community. You’ll be able to know if the location is clean, secure, and friendly to all patients. You will be able to communicate with staff and residents directly to gather their experiences. Does the community look like somewhere you would be comfortable living? Are there any red flags to watch out for?
Talk to Current Residents
One of the best ways to get a good feeling for a nursing home is to ask residents. If they’re willing, they may be able to tell you if a community is LGBT-inclusive. You may also be able to get a good grasp of how welcoming and accepting other residents are. Be sure you have permission to talk with residents before doing so.
Look for LGBT-Inclusive Events
Many nursing homes will provide activities and events for residents to enjoy, promoting enrichment, socialization, and wellness. Communities will arrange a wide variety of events to cater to seniors of many different backgrounds. Try to see if any events are catered to the LGBTQ+ community, such as Pride Month parties. LGBT-friendly events may show that a community is non-discriminatory.
Ask Staff Members
Sometimes, it’s difficult to understand a community’s inclusion rules and practices at first glance. You can easily discover a community’s official policies regarding LGBTQ+ residents by asking staff members. All staff should be thoroughly trained in company policies and will be able to give you an informed response regarding their inclusion practices.
Know Your Rights
Larger cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles are more likely to feature diverse communities to cater to more types of residents, including LGBTQ+ seniors. However, these cities are also more vulnerable to overcrowding, understaffing, and other problems stemming from larger senior populations. The more communities there are, the more abuse cases are likely. Know that you have the right to respectful and dignified care in a setting free from neglect or abuse, no matter where you’re located. Understand red flags like missed meals, staff shortages, bedsores, disrespectful behavior, and inappropriate comments. In Chicago alone, around 25% of nursing homes had sexual assault reports. If you experience any form of nursing home abuse, including sexual abuse in Chicago, it’s imperative to consult with a lawyer and file a police report. These situations can happen anywhere, however—keep your rights protected.
Conclusion
Most nursing homes and home caregivers welcome and include LGBTQ+ individuals. However, it’s best to stay observant and confirm policies before choosing any long-term care option. Your comfort and happiness are priorities, and ensuring you are respected and cared for the way you are is one of the most important elements of a safe and comfortable retirement.
