February 5, 2009
LGBT Seniors Face Major Cuts in Services
San Diego, CA, February 5, 2009 - Aging as Ourselves (AAO) is the safety net for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) seniors throughout San Diego County. As a result of the economic circumstances that are impacting the foundations and corporations which help to fund this program, AAO is facing funding shortfalls that will seriously hinder the basic services that these underserved seniors have come to rely upon. $50,000 is needed by February 28, 2009 to ensure that most basic services remain in place. This money will be matched dollar for dollar by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
People like Sam Brown who is a 75 year old gay man living on social security will no longer have Bette, his Case Manager helping him interview caregivers or reminding him to take his medications. Sam will no longer have a support group of older gay men to lean on as he struggles with substance abuse issues. Sam has almost finished his health directive and has just gotten used to regular visits from Jay, a volunteer, who simply wanted to help Sam get to and from his medical appointments. Loss of these services mean that 1000's of LGBT seniors like Sam may have to go back in the closet just to get access to services they deserve from people they can trust.
Newsweek recently described LGBT seniors as "invisible and overlooked." Access to appropriate social services, healthcare, benefits and treatment and prevention is hindered by marriage inequality and by the fact that most providers assume that patients are heterosexual. AAO is a groundbreaking program established in 2004 that provides welcoming and safe services for LGBT seniors.
AAO benefits from a strong collaboration that includes both agencies that specialize in senior services as well as organizations that focus on serving the LGBT community. ElderHelp of San Diego serves as the lead agency for AAO. Other partners include Family Health Centers of San Diego; The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center; Elder Law and Advocacy; and Seniors Active in a Gay Environment (SAGE).
Funders have included the Human Dignity Foundation, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Weingart Foundation, The Price-Galinson Collaborative Fund, The California Endowment and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Please call or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , at 619-284-9281 x 11 if you or anyone you know would like to help keep this program strong.
CONTACT:
Leane Marchese
ElderHelp of San Diego
619-284-9281 x 11
619-284-0214
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.elderhelpofsandiego.org