GLSS RECEIVES SAGECARE CREDENTIAL FOR WORK WITH LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Greater Lynn Senior Services’ Rainbow Alliance Committee is proud to announce that the Agency has achieved the prestigious SAGECare credential. The certification from SAGE signifies that GLSS’ employees have completed training in LGBTQ+ cultural competency for providing care to older adults and a commitment to creating a respectful, affirming, and inclusive environment for all. GLSS was able to participate in SAGECare’s nationally recognized training program for free.
“Becoming SAGECare credentialed supports our commitment to being an inclusive provider and employer,” said Kathryn C. Burns, GLSS’s CEO. “In order to achieve the certification, at least 50 percent of our staff needed to complete a training module offered by SAGECare, and. I am pleased to note that we exceeded that number by quite a bit.” The trainings offered by SAGECare include topics such as “Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults,” “Asking Inclusive Intake Questions,” and “Guidance and Grace: Preparing LGBTQ+ Older Adults for End of Life.”
“SAGECare trainings address the challenges and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community at large with special focus on understanding the unique circumstances experienced by older adults,” said Holly Jarrell-Marcinelli, Senior Director of Consumer Services at GLSS. She notes that many individuals may not have children or may be estranged from family members and, as a result, may be more reliant on services and supports from organizations like GLSS to help them remain safe and independent as they age.
The SAGECare training initiative is a project of GLSS’ Rainbow Alliance, a committee of GLSS employees interested in supporting LGBTQ+ consumers, employees, and community members. “Knowing we work with so many people who are willing to learn about each other and to be helpful in this way makes a huge impression on me,” said Jerrod Webb-Gaudian, GLSS’ Meals on Wheels Supervisor and member of the Rainbow Alliance. “This achievement makes GLSS an even more caring and supportive place for all of us—consumers, staff, and allies alike.”
The Rainbow Alliance is planning a number of upcoming events and activities to engage with LGBTQ+ older adults in an effort to provide meaningful opportunities to connect with others. If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact mgilligan@glss.net.
SAGECare provides training and credentialing to help healthcare and elder care providers deliver culturally competent and affirming care to LGBTQ+ older adults. Its parent, SAGE—founded in 1978—is the largest and oldest American organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people.
GLSS is the Aging Services Access Point and Area Agency on Aging serving people age 60 and older in the Greater Lynn area. The agency offers information and referral; in-home services; meals and nutrition; clinical counseling and support; elder protective services; mobility and healthy living workshops; and long-term services and supports. Several of its programs reach beyond the Greater Lynn area, serving people of all ages throughout the North Shore and Merrimack Valley.