New Community Services to Prevent Social Isolation and Improve Access to Alzheimer’s Care Among LGBT Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

San Francisco – The San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) has launched the implementation of two important recommendations from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Aging Policy Task Force. New community services will now enhance the lives of LGBT seniors and adults with disabilities through a peer support network to reduce social isolation, and a targeted Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care education campaign designed to overcome the unique barriers aging LGBT individuals have to access services.

The San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force was convened by the Board of Supervisors to evaluate the needs of LGBT seniors, to assess the capacity of the current support system to meet those needs, and to address any unmet needs. Findings from a 2014 Task Force report indicate that LGBT older adults, when compared to those who identify with the heterosexual population, live with higher rates of physical disabilities, are more likely to live alone, lack companionship, and have lower levels of social support – factors which lead to significantly higher rates of social isolation, depression, anxiety, and suicide.

“Our LGBT seniors face unique challenges that put them at greater risk of isolation, homelessness, and poverty. When I led the effort to create the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force at the Board of Supervisors, it was to find solutions like those being announced today, to help improve the health and well-being of our aging community,” said California Senator Scott Wiener. “Today’s LGBT seniors have been fighting for years for so many of the freedoms we enjoy, and it’s our moral responsibility to ensure they can age with the dignity and respect they’ve earned many times over.”

“I am thankful for the groundbreaking work of Senator Wiener and the Human Services Agency on issues related to LGBT seniors,” said Supervisor Jeff Sheehy. “I look forward to implementing the recommendations and funding key services to meet the unique needs of this population."

In response to the LGBT Task Force’s recommendations to establish new programs that address growing community needs, DAAS has provided grant funding to the Shanti Project to deliver social isolation prevention and animal bonding services, and the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Network.

“It’s wonderful to see the recommendations of the LGBT Aging Policy Task Force coming to fruition,” said DAAS Executive Director Shireen McSpadden. “San Francisco is committed to supporting the emotional and behavioral well-being of underserved LGBT seniors and adults with disabilities within the larger community of seniors. The connective and early intervention programs announced today utilize peer volunteer support, a model of service delivery which has history of success in our communities.”

The Shanti Project will bring together care navigation and peer support programming in order to address the emotional, behavioral, health, and social isolation challenges faced by vulnerable and underserved LGBT seniors and adults with disabilities. Peer support volunteers will provide outreach and practical support via ongoing engagements with participants such as social visits, accompaniment to appointments or events, pet bonding, and other assistance.

The Alzheimer’s Association will lead the development of a curriculum specifically designed to educate community-based organizations, hospitals, and related healthcare facilities about dementia and the specialized needs of LGBT seniors and adults with disabilities who have Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia living in San Francisco. New marketing materials and an outreach strategy will promote the LGBT Dementia Care Network and inform the target populations of available specialized training, information, and support services.