SAGE CenLa To Offer Caregiver's Support Group: SAGECAP

SAGE CenLa will begin offering a support group for caregivers. The group will meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, beginning October 26 at the Martin Branch of the Rapides Parish Library in downtown Pineville. The library's address is 801 W. Shamrock Street, Pineville, La. (one block off of Main St.).

Our Miss Brooks will be presenting a four-part series of talks titled "Caregivers: Continuing the Tradition." She has told us that the first installment will discuss the need for specialized care within the LGBT community.

"Only by increasing our awareness of the unique issues facing LGBT caregivers...can we become effective change agents, ensuring an LGBT identity no longer automatically places them at risk of receiving incompetent, ineffective, or inappropriate services." (David W. Coon, PhD, Family Caregiver Alliance, SFO)

SAGE Launches National Resource Center On LGBT Aging

[NEW YORK, NY] Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), the world's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults, today launched its historic National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country's first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults nationwide.

"The launch of our National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is an enormous step forward for our aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. It speaks to the necessary attention that service providers of all types must place on supporting diverse older adults around the country," said Michael Adams, executive director at SAGE.

The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging will connect aging providers and LGBT organizations around the country with technical assistance, training and key resources to support LGBT older adults.

Central to the Resource Center is the unveiling of its web site, which over time will grow into a highly interactive, multimedia site that will equip LGBT older adults and their loved ones with information on legal issues, caregiving, lifelong planning and housing, among other areas.

"LGBT older adults have several unique health care, legal and financial details to take into account when planning for retirement and beyond. By providing critical information and tools for LGBT elders and the organizations that care for them, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging will ensure that they can age with the dignity and respect they deserve," said Hilary Meyer, director of the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.

In February 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a grant to SAGE -- and its 10 national partners -- to establish the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging.

"The U.S. Administration on Aging is proud to have played a part in the creation of a resource center designed to engage, empower and support mainstream aging providers, LGBT service providers and LGBT older adults. It will help ensure that LGBT elders have the supports they need to successfully age in place," said Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SAGE's 10 organizational partners on the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging include: the American Society on Aging; the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity, Hunter College; CenterLink (the national association of LGBT community centers); FORGE Transgender Aging Network; GRIOT Circle; The LGBT Aging Project; the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); the National Institute of Senior Centers (National Council on Aging); Openhouse and PHI (a national training expert).

To learn more about the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, please visitwww.lgbtagingcenter.org.

Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) is the world's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT older adults. SAGE has pioneered programs and services for the aging LGBT community, provided technical assistance and training to expand opportunities for LGBT older people across the country, and provided a national voice on LGBT aging issues. In 2005, SAGE became the first official LGBT delegate at the White House Conference on Aging. In 2010, SAGE was awarded a three-year $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Aging to create the nation's only national resource center on LGBT aging. Learn more at sageusa.org.

Smoking and the LGBT Community

A new study released by the American Lung Association reveals that the LGBT community is twice as likely to smoke:

"Gay, bisexual and transgender men are 2.0 to 2.5 times more likely to smoke than heterosexual men. Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are 1.5 to 2.0 times more likely to smoke than heterosexual women. Bisexual boys and girls have some of the highest smoking rates when compared with both their heterosexual and homosexual peers."

The rates are alarming, but I do see some change coming about, at least in my own home. My partner gave up cigarettes about a year ago. He quit with the aid of the drug Chantix and it worked well for him, without noticeable side effects. I'd quit about six months prior without any cessation medications or patches or even gum. A good friend recently marked two months without smoking, and without drugs as well. It's not easy but it can be done. There are still moments when I think a cigarette would taste good, but the moment passes. I do feel better now that I no longer smoke. It's just a matter of reminding myself of that fact when the desire occurs, a matter of will. That's a difficult proposition for many, though, as is making the initial commitment to quitting.

Last night while at a friend's house for dinner, I couldn't help noticing packages of Chantix, waiting to be opened. I know she and her partner have tried to quit before and I hope they make it this time.

Download the .pdf of the report from the American Lung Association's web site here:

http://www.lungusa.org/assets/documents/publications/lung-disease-data/lgbt-report.pdf

This excerpt is from a soon-to-be released documentary about two men who's remarkable relationship survived the military of the 1950's. The film maker, Stu Maddox, has at least one other LGBT Aging-related documentary due out this spring.

Portugal Allows Same-Sex Marriage

Portugal recently became the sixth European country to accept marriage between same sex couples, beating the "liberal" United States when it comes to gay rights. While on a recent visit to Portugal, the Pope of course denounced the move. His comments, that abortion and same-sex marriage are some of today's most insidious threats to the common good,' expected as they might be, are beginning to sound almost inflammatory in today's social climate. Portugal, with its long history of Catholicism, is fortunate to have a president who, though conservative, has the testicular fortitude and the vision to make this timely and correct decision.

SAGE Louisiana Now Has A Blog!

In order to take advantage of as many meas of communication as possible, as well as to pass along news, video, and other information related to SAGE Louisiana, LGBT aging issues, and the LGBT community in general, this blog was created. Enjoy!