Providing Culturally Appropriate Care for LGBTQ Older Adults

The LGBTQ older adult has lived through a lifetime of stigma and discrimination. The lived experiences of LGBTQ older adults affect their engagement with health care. Participate in this module to better understand and address the multidimensional needs of aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults, learn to utilize a patient centered framework to provide culturally appropriate care, and meet the needs of the LGBTQ older adult patient. Acquire successful strategies for developing cultural competence to address disparities and inequalities experienced by this population.

Author Bios

Cecilia (Cec) T. Hardacker, MSN, RN, CNL
Director of Education
Howard Brown Health
Chicago, Illinois

Ms. Cecilia Hardacker, MSN, RN, CNL, is Director of Education at Howard Brown Health, (LGBTQ non-profit healthcare center), Adjunct Professor Rush University, and Consultant, NIH PLUS Consortium. Ms. Hardacker is co-creator of an evidence-based cultural competency training program, Health Education About LGBT Elders (HEALE) curriculum for health care staff. The HEALE curriculum has been presented in hospital academic centers, community-based clinics, and nursing homes, successfully training health care professionals with significant improvement in staff’s knowledge and understanding of culturally-appropriate care for meeting the unique needs of LGBT persons. Her program has contributed to a larger vision addressing and advancing health equity and created a culture of health with improved health outcomes for the older LGBT population.

(See “Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Health and Aging” by Ms. Hardacker: https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319950303)

Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Video Stream & pdfs

Handout - One Per Page

Handout - Three Per Page

Resources and References

In support of improving patient care, Rush University Medical Center is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Rush University Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of (0.5) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ANCC Credit Designation – Nurses

The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is (0.5) contact hours.

This activity is being presented without bias and without commercial support.

Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge based CPE activity (JA0000275-0000-19-071-H01-P) for (0.5) contact hours for pharmacists.

Rush University Medical Center designates this knowledge based CPE activity (JA0000275-0000-19-071-H01-T) for (0.5) contact hours for pharmacy technicians.

Rush University is an approved provider for physical therapy (216.000272), occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social work (159.001203), nutrition, speech-audiology, and psychology by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

Rush University designates this live activity for (0.5) Continuing Education credit(s).

Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Define foundational LGBTQ terminology
2. Discuss LGBTQ cultural and historical context and its impact on the older LGBTQ adult
3. Analyze unique/common health concerns of this population
4. Identify ways to provide culturally competent care to meet the needs and provide support to LGBTQ older adults
5. Describe strategies to create an inclusive culturally appropriate environment

For technical support, please notify engage@engageil.com.

To report a complaint, please contact the ENGAGE-IL Program Help Desk at engageIL@engageil.com.

This ENGAGE-IL learning activity fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. Learners with special needs can make requests for accommodation at any time by sending e-mail to engageIL@engageil.com.