Respectful Aging LGBT Services
Loree Cook-Daniels delivered a comprehensive tutorial on respectfully serving the aging LGBT populations at the annual conference of AAHSA. She has a wealth of information on her website. Here are some of the points she made and there were more available. Respect is a must for everyone and in any situation:
- Use the client’s terms: Reflecting back shows openness and respect. Use the names, pronouns and body parts they use. For example, a person may use a name that is not their legal one. Ask them the pronoun they want to be called. The gender identity of younger generations, Loree told us, is not necessarily male or female. They may refer to themselves as gender neutral.
- Documentation, like health insurance forms, can change the “gender markers”
- Know and tell why you ask them a question. Some questions are inappropriate and also irrelevant. Others directly relate to the quality of care they will receive.
- She educated the audience on the transition from one gender to another. A public journey. Once completing the transition, the person may no longer view themselves as transgender.