Lina and Grace were good friends before becoming a couple. After fifteen years they were still very much in love. Like many couples, they never thought about one of them becoming disabled. When Lina started having severe headaches, they contributed it to stress on her job. After a couple months, Lina made an appointment with her doctor. He placed her on a medical and scheduled a MRI along with lab work. Grace went to Lina's follow-up appointment the next week. Lina's doctor sat next to the women and waited a couple minutes before he couple speak. Once he regained his composure, he explained that Lina had a tumor on her brain causing the headaches, it was too dangerous to remove. and she had anywhere from 1-3 years. He encouraged them to get their affairs in order and stated how sorry he was. They left the doctor's office in disbelief. Their lives changed forever during that short medical appointment. So now what was the plan? They both cried at the thought of putting their affairs in order - things such as - banking, the house and Deed. Banks accounts - maintained separate accounts - no beneficiary - Lina owned house before Grace - only Lina's name - no beneficiary - Deed - not changed to Quit Claim Deed with Grace's name. Grace decided to take an 'early out' as an accountant so her retirement was substantially less than waiting . Her company hired Grace as a contract part-time employee working from home. Lina submitted an application for Social Security Disability and received it within 8 months. Within a few months Lina relied on Grace for caregiving chores and by the end of the year she need both chores and activities of daily living. Lina was in constant pain without her mediation. She passed away with in a couple years - sleeping much of the time. After being a caregiver for "24/7" over approximately two years, Grace felt overwhelmed and emotionally drained. She was not only was her heart breaking, her whole life changed forever all over again. She needed to find another place to live. A representative from the bank and Lina's financial adviser told Grace all funds were frozen. Lina was an executive director at a Fortune 500 company while Grace worked for a small accounting firm.
When Lina got sick, they didn't have a support system to help explain the importance of taking care of their affairs. Situations like this happen far too often. Don't let it happen to you, your love one and your family.
Support systems are so important at a time when your loved one is ill. With this situation, these two women had each other. But they needed others who could pitch in. Become involved with supportive groups. As as Care Counselor, I could have counseled Grace to help her develop a caregiving plan while she was taking care of Lina. Then I could work with Grace when Lina passed - When Caring Ends.
If you are a caregiver or your caring ended,
please contact me a for a free 15 minute consultation
734-576-2220 / [email protected]
Resources
ElderSource - As part of its mission to ensure all sectors of the aging population have access to resources and support, ElderSource created an initiative to increase the awareness and support of the needs lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) elders as they age.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders are even more isolated as they fear how they may be treated by other older adults or by providers of care. Many remain isolated or go into isolation as they age and therefore don’t access the services and benefits available to them.
LGBT Elder Cultural Competency Training
Through the ElderSource Institute, the educational and training arm of ElderSource, offers the LGBT Elder Cultural Competency Training, a 90 minute training specifically designed with a focus on LGBT elders and helping service providers to understand their needs and how to be sensitive in the delivery of services.
ElderSource Institute was formed in 2015 as the educational and training arm of our parent company, ElderSource.
Organization’s Mission Statement: ElderSource Institute provides access to the most trusted resources, expert knowledge and local networks on all matters of aging
Call today about our LGBT Elder Cultural Competency Training – 888.242.4464
TOLL: 888-242-4464 Local: 904.391.6600 Fax: 904.391.6693
Visually or audio-impaired dial Florida Relay Services at 7-1-1
10688 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 https://www.myeldersource.org/
LGBT – Community Fund For Northeast Florida - Northeast Florida is a rich and varied community, home to people of many different faiths, national backgrounds, races, cultures and ethnicities. Northeast Florida also is home to many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, who work in our businesses, contribute to our civic enterprises and, like all of us, care for parents, children, friends and family. A group of donors in Northeast Florida is working to build philanthropic resources that can help our community address some of the unique needs of our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) friends and neighbors. To that end, the LGBT Community Fund has been established at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
One of Several Focuses for Giving
Elders: Innovative work is being done in the community to educate providers about the needs of LGBT elders and there are significant opportunities (and need) to expand that work. A strong potential partner is ElderSource, and an emerging potential partner is Baptist Health.
245 Riverside Ave. Suite 310 Jacksonville, FL 32202 Phone 904-356-4483 Fax 904-356-7910
www.lgbtnefl.org Christina Fleck, [email protected]
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is 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. Established in 2010 through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging provides training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults. The center is led by Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) in collaboration with 18 leading organizations from around the country.
National Headquarters
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging c/o Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
305 Seventh Avenue 6th Floor New York, NY 10001
Phone 212-741-2247 Fax 212-366-1947 Email [email protected]
SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline 1-888-234-SAGE www.lgbtagingcenter.org
SAGE - Mission - SAGE leads in addressing issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) aging. In partnership with its constituents and allies, SAGE works to achieve a high quality of life for LGBT older adults, supports and advocates for their rights, fosters a greater understanding of aging in all communities, and promotes positive images of LGBT life in later years.
Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources for LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations, largely through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. With offices in New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, SAGE coordinates a growing network of 28 local SAGE affiliates in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
305 Seventh Ave, 15th Floor New York, NY 10001 212-741-2247 tel 212-366-1947 fax
[email protected] www.sageusa.org
Training to Serve – Mission is to provide education, tools and resources to improve the quality of life of LGBT people as they age. Training to Serve is committed to making a difference in how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults (LGBT) are supported and served as they age. Their respected training curriculum is how they accomplish this goal.Training to Serve has reached about 4,000 professionals who provide aging services, helping create welcoming and respectful support for the growing population of Minnesota LGBT elders. Training to Serve also published and distributed the Twin Cities area’s first LGBT Aging Resource Guide for persons seeking LGBT–welcoming services for themselves, a loved one or a client.
2365 North McKnight Road St. Paul, Minnesota 55109
[email protected] http://www.trainingtoserve.org/