Resident & Community Engagement

It’s important for long-term care communities to continually gather information about their residents such as sexual orientation and gender identity.

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:
-Upload a copy of the survey and/or the results demonstrating the inclusion of LGBTQ+ demographic measures

Example:
Woodland Pond at New Paltz Resident Council survey for residents.

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:
-Upload a copy of the survey and/or the results demonstrating the inclusion of LGBTQ+ climate measures.

Example:
Woodland Pond at New Paltz Resident Council survey for residents.

Collaborating with your local LGBTQ+ community organization furthers your organization's reach. This is an actionable way to show support and a desire to learn and support LGBTQ+ older adults and their needs.

Some examples include:

-Holding a focus group

-Conduct a survey

-Hold a meeting, town hall or listening session

-Include the LGBTQ+ community in your community needs assessment

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:

-Describe these efforts and the results of your engagement with the community
-Upload any documents related to your organization’s engagement with the community (i.e. results from a focus group, meeting minutes, examples from community needs assessment, etc.)

Examples:
UC Davis Medical Center conducted interviews and presented their LGBTQ+ Wellbeing findings at a Reducing Health Disparities Community Forum.

Resources:
Most states have a state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organization that works to address the needs of LGBTQ+ people. See the listing of Equality Federation member organizations to find an organization in your state.

Visit the CenterLink Directory of LGBTQ Community Centers to find a community center in your area that you can meet with.

You can also reach out to your local PFLAG Chapter to discuss LGBTQ+ related concerns.

Long-term care communities across the country participate in or sponsor their local Pride celebrations. There are also a wide variety of other types of LGBTQ+ events or initiatives that facilities can participate in or sponsor. Some of the most common ones include hosting an LGBTQ+ health fair, movie night, speaker, health panel, symposium, HIV testing, and more.

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:
-Describe the external community event(s)
-Upload any relevant documentation

Example:
Woodland Pond Celebrates LGBTQ Pride Month with Educational Activities

NYC Health + Hospitals participated in a variety of events during the 2022 pride season

Senior housing providers are beginning to advertise in local newspapers and magazines to promote their services and target the LGBTQ+ consumer. This is a great way to let the LGBTQ+ community know what services your community provides while also reaching the LGBTQ+ consumer who is in the process of choosing where to move themselves or their loved one. Ad campaigns and marketing can further a message of a community’s values around LGBTQ+ inclusion. Increasingly, ads with authentic images of LGBTQ+ people are featured in both LGBTQ+ media outlets and the general press alike.

Resources:
Check out this article entitled "Companies With LGBTQ+ Inclusive Ads Can Increase Sales By 40%, And Here's Why."

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:
-Describe marketing efforts
-Upload a sample of the creative content used to market or advertise to the LGBTQ+ community

Example:
Ingleside Community advertisement in Washington DC's Blade

To receive credit in the LEI, a community must:

-Upload screenshots of social media posts that include LGBTQ+ content and/or images.

-Must be at least twice (different months)

-One post must be on a transgender-specific topic/imagery

More Information

Sharing LGBTQ+ content in your community's social media posts is another helpful way to reach LGBTQ+ residents. While Pride month is a great time for these posts, sharing inclusive content throughout the year can demonstrate your community's year-round commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Ideas for posts may include highlighting your facility's participation in the LEI, sharing information about LGBTQ+ health, or celebrating an LGBTQ+ awareness day.

Check out this list of LGBTQ+ holidays and awareness days that happen throughout the year for more inspiration.

• International Transgender Day of Visibility - March 31st
• Celebrate Bisexuality Day - September 23rd
• National Coming Out Day - October 11th
• Spirit Day - October 16th
• Transgender Day of Remembrance - November 20th

It is important that communities and healthcare providers use their platform as both service provider and employer to advocate for their LGBTQ+ patients and employees and the policies that will protect them.

For example:

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center created this document to encourage grassroots action on the harmful Better Care Reconciliation Act 2017.

The CEO of Twin Cities Community Hospital wrote this op-ed on supporting LGBTQ+ troops.

RWJBarnabas Health submitted this letter to Members of the Senate Commerce Committee illustrating their support for bills that would prohibit certain insurance companies from discriminating in coverage and services based on gender identity.

To receive credit for the LEI, a community must:
-Describe the legislation or initiative and how your organization publicly engaged in support of LGBTQ+ equality
-Upload any documents related to your engagement with this legislation or initiative
-Must relate to a specific policy/legislation