The LGBT Elder Initiative’s Conversation series will next turn its attention to the health and wellness of older women.
The organization will host LGBT Older Women’s Health from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 18 at South Philadelphia Older Adult Center, 1430 E. Passyunk Ave.
The event will focus on the health challenges women over 50 face and will utilize an interactive format to allow participants to take an active role in exploring solutions to these obstacles.
LGBTEI co-chair Terri Clark said the planning committee was comprised of women in the target community, who met with a researcher from the Public Health Management Corporation, which recently unveiled a wide-ranging research report on the needs of the LGBT older-adult population.
“The committee talked about what they wanted to see in a Conversation program for their community, and they looked over the PHMC data,” Clark said. “Out of that conversation they decided they wanted an event that focused on making friends, something interactive, something fun. They were looking for an opportunity to meet other adult women and to work together on eating better, learning nutrition. The Elder Initiative is really trying to be responsive to our community’s needs as we age, and this ties into that well.”
Participants will get the chance to take part in a cooking demonstration that will teach them to make nutritional snacks, and can also try Tai Chi with a trained expert who is leading free classes at the William Way LGBT Community Center.
Diane Menio, executive director of the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, will also lead a discussion on the preventative screenings available under the Affordable Care Act.
“The PHMC study found that many women aren’t getting the preventive health care that they should be,” Menio said. “And preventative care is something that the Affordable Care Act does cover, so I think it’s really important for everyone to understand this, in particular people who aren’t as comfortable accessing the health-care system.”
Clark added that LBT women often face stigma associated with their identities, have fewer ties to biological families than heterosexual women, and must grapple with legal inequalities such as being prevented from receiving a late partner’s Social Security or pension.
This and other Conversation events, Clark said, seek to arm community members with the information and inspiration they need to overcome these challenges.
“We’re giving people information about the resources that are out there and making referrals. This is a direct service that the Elder Initiative is able to make happen for our community,” she said. “And it ties into the desire of the city to be seen as an aging-friendly city. If Philadelphia is truly going to be aging-friendly, it needs to be inclusive, responsive and supportive of our LGBT older adults.”
Menio agreed that the program provides a vital service for both the community and city.
“It brings information to people who may not access it elsewhere,” she said. “The whole thread of this is that we need to integrate and get people to understand that there are resources out there for them and that, hopefully, they can feel comfortable accessing them.”
Last month’s Conversation on the aging mind drew about 85 people.
Clark said organizers are anticipating a crowd of at least 50 but are eager to disseminate the information to and establish connections among crowds of any size.
“It will be successful if it’s smaller or larger,” she said. “We really just want to give people the opportunity to network, make new friends and learn some important information about their health and wellness.”
Next week’s event comes in the midst of Older Americans Month.
To mark the occasion, LGBTEI launched a new campaign to allow the local community to take an active role in the creation of the organization’s new website.
The “Lend Us Your Face” campaign will allow LGBT singles, couples and groups to have their photos taken to be featured on the site and in new LGBTEI materials.
Photographers will be on hand from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 18 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., for the first shoot. Appointments can be made, and walk-ins will also be accepted.
Everyone who is photographed will be entered into a drawing for prizes. The site is expected to launch in the fall.
For more information or to make an appointment, email [email protected].
