In the United States there are 1.5 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults — a number that’s expected to double by 2030. LGBT older adults came of age at a time in the US when discrimination was the norm for the LGBT population; as a result many LGBT seniors don’t trust the medical system, and the idea of moving into a long-term care facility means going right back into the closet. LGBT aging is compounded by a lack of resources, and laws and public policies that favor biological families. So how do LGBT seniors get the care they need? And where do LGBT caregivers find support? In today’s episode we break down the issues and learn about an innovative program that’s improving the lives of LGBT seniors and caregivers. Tune in for a candid and inspiring conversation with Bethany Henderson, program manager of the SAGECAP (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders – Caring and Preparing) program at Chase Brexton Health Care’s LGBT Health Resource Center.
Explore Chase Brexton’s Center for LGBTQ Health Equity
Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) website
UPDATE: Four months after this episode aired, Bethany and four of her colleagues were fired without notice from Chase Brexton during an internal battle over healthcare practitioners’ efforts to unionize. Bethany is currently the Transgender Health Care Coordinator of STAR TRACK at the University of Maryland Baltimore.
Music: “Somewhere New” by Lee Rosevere | CC BY NC SA | Free Music Archive
Scattered: My Year As An Accidental Caregiver is available in paperback and eBook at
