Creating Inclusive Communities for 2SLBGTQ+ People Living with Dementia

Today’s 2SLGBTQ+ older adults have lived through a number of significant shifts in their rights and freedoms, and are among the first to live openly with diverse sexual orientations and/or gender identities in older age. These lived experiences can affect their interactions with health care and service providers in a number of different ways, depending on their age and past experiences.

For these reasons, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals may face unique challenges when it comes to dementia care and support.

This Pride Month, we want to highlight the importance of creating inclusive environments for all people living with dementia. Part of our goal at the Alzheimer Society is to create more dementia-friendly communities, where people living with dementia and their care partners feel safe, respected and included. It’s important to acknowledge all the diverse backgrounds and experiences people living with dementia have, including those within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The more we understand each other, the better support we can give.

Here are a few resources about dementia and the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and 2SLGBTQ+-friendly supports for older adults:

• How to be an Ally to 2SLGBTQI People Living with Dementia – PDF (Egale Canada)
• 2SLGBTQI Dementia Networks of Support & E-Learning (Egale Canada)
• Over the Rainbow Program (Rainbow Resource Centre)
• My Choices for Safe and Inclusive Healthcare – PDF (Canadian Virtual Hospice)
• Aging While Queer Video (National Institute on Aging)