By Lauren Means
According to the American Psychological Association, 39 million people in the U.S. are age 65 or older, including 2.4 million people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). While all of the LGBT+ population has unique needs when it comes to their health, the LGBT+ senior community faces its own set of additional hurdles when navigating healthcare. Fortunately, there are many agencies and programs that specifically assist the LGBT+ population and focus on senior care as follows:
SAGE LGBT ELDER HOTLINE
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
305 Seventh Ave, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10001
A place to call when you need to talk; peer-to-peer support without judgment; factual answers to questions regarding safer-sex information; provides local resource information using the largest LGBT resource database in the country.
HOTLINE: (888) 234-SAGE (7243), Monday through Friday: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST); Saturday: 11 am to 4 p.m. CST
ONLINE: sageusa.org
E-MAIL: sage@GLBThotline.org
OUTSERVE-SLDN
P.O. Box 65301
Washington DC 20035-5301
Provides legal services for actively serving LGBT military personnel and veterans, advocates for authentic transgender service, provides developmental opportunities, assists with upgrading and changing discharge paperwork, crisis assistance, and ensuring equal access to pay and benefits.
HOTLINE: (800) 538-7418
Phone is not monitored, please leave a message and we will contact you within 3 business days.
ONLINE: www.outserve-sldn.org
E-MAIL: admin@outserve-sldn.org
Adult Protective Services (Tennessee)
Processes and investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation of adults who are unable to protect themselves due to a physical or mental limitation
In an emergency, always call 911 first.
Non-emergency call (888) 277-8366, available 24/7
Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman
For institutional abuse in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
The Ombudsman is available to help residents and their families resolve questions or problems and will advocate for solutions to problems for qualified residents of long-term care facilities. Lauren Meeker is a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
CALL: 615-837-5112, Toll Free: 877-236-0013, TDD: 615-532-3893
E-MAIL: lauren.meeker@tn.gov
Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability
Andrew Jackson Building, 9th Floor
502 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243-0860
The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
The country’s first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults.
ONLINE: www.lgbtagingcenter.org
E-MAIL: info@lgbtagingcenter.org
Family Caregiver Alliance
Improving the quality of life for caregivers through education, services, research and advocacy
caregiver.org
(800) 445-8106
E-MAIL: info@caregiver.org
AARP — LGBT Pride
“As an association, AARP is inclusive in its policies, programs, and advocacy positions.”
ONLINE: aarp.org/home-family/voices/lgbt-pride/
Referral Services
Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists Online Referral System
ONLINE: aglp.memberclicks.net/aglp-referral
GLMA (Gay & Lesbian Medical Association)
ONLINE: glma.org
Out2Enroll
Connect our communities—LGBT people and our families, friends, and allies—with the new health insurance coverage options available under the Affordable Care Act.
ONLINE: out2enroll.org
E-MAIL: info@out2enroll.org
