The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59049

Dianne Perlmutter, MSW, MPH, Health Services Division, JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210, 617-482-9485, dperlmut@jsi.com and Jodi Sperber, MSW, MPH, John Snow, Inc., 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210.

Findings will be presented from a study investigating challenges associated with and opportunities for expanding access to state funded home care services for LGBT elders and their caregivers.

Findings from this research will inform and support current efforts of the Greater Boston LGBT Aging Project to enhance the quality of life of LGBT elders by ensuring equitable access to services that make it possible for LGBT elders to remain in their own homes as they grow older.

Research components include focus groups with a diverse group of LGBT elders and caregivers, analysis of public policies regulating community based long term care services, a literature review and a pilot evaluation of a training program for the state's home care workers. This research expands upon a preliminary study that identified trends likely to result in reluctance to request needed services and consequent increases in isolation and compromised physical and emotional health. The current study will include African American and Latino LGBT elders, transgender elders and LGBT caregivers which will add vital information to our understanding about how to best support the diversity of experience within the LGBT elder community.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of their participation in this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify unique issues associated with providing home care services to LGBT elders
• Evaluate the effectiveness of and need for revision of public policies regulating the provision of elder services to ensure equitable access for LGBT elders.
• Utilize findings from evaluation of LGBT elders training program designed for home care workers to assist in development of training programs for providers delivering care for LGBT elders.

Keywords: Gay, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.