A newly formed commission will study and advise the Illinois government on how to improve assisted living and other services for LGBTQ older adults in the state.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) recently signed an amendment to the Illinois Act on Aging, which designates specific protections and services for older LGBTQ older adults. The act also created the Illinois Commission on LGBTQ Aging to investigate and provide recommendations on improving services to members of this population.
LeadingAge Illinois President and CEO Angela Schnepf said she hopes her organization will be included at the table when the commission identifies best practices for improving outcomes for everyone, including underserved populations such as LGBTQ older adults.
“LeadingAge Illinois believes that everyone should have access to quality aging services, housing and care,” Schnepf told McKnight’s Senior Living. “Outcomes of care are best improved through the collaboration between our regulatory agencies and providers. Further, we look forward to participating in the development of strategies to improve provider awareness of the needs of underserved populations, including LGTQ older adults.”
In addition to assisted living, the Illinois commission will study housing, caregiver support, HIV/AIDS-specific care, home- and community-based services and long-term care, health, financial and psychosocial needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer older adults.
The effort will include analyzing the effects of legislation, policies and regulations; making recommendations to try to ensure equitable access, treatment, care and benefits, and overall quality of life; and examining strategies to increase providers’ awareness of the needs of the population. The commission will work with the Illinois Council on Aging to try to ensure equal treatment and care for older adults, regardless of gender identity or sexuality.
According to LGBTQ Aging Center research, LGBTQ older adults are more susceptible to isolation, neglect and abuse than their heterosexual counterparts.
“SB3490 is a critical step to breaking down barriers to access and addressing the disparities faced by older LBGTQ adults, a key part of the state’s rapidly growing elderly population, who will now have a louder voice on issues impacting them,” AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent said in a statement.
SAGE Executive Vice President Lynn Faria said the law will provide LBGTQ+ elders and older adults living with HIV “culturally competent aging services and supports they need and deserve.”
Earlier this year, national advocacy group PHI announced the launch of the Direct Care Worker Equity Institute to address issues of racism and gender injustice in long-term care. And in January, the Business Coalition for the Equality Act announced more than 500 major corporations that had joined with the Human Rights Campaign in calling for the U.S. Senate to pass the Equality Act.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a bipartisan vote in February 2021. The federal legislation, if it becomes law, would explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to existing civil rights laws that protect against discrimination based on race, color, national origin and religion.
