The United States’ currently installed infrastructure, policies and programs to support healthy aging for older adults was conceived to support the needs of a homogenous population of white heterosexual Anglos. This foundation supports the needs of many aging Americans, but it provides little flexibility for populations that exist outside the mainstream. One such population is made up of older adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Population estimates project between one and three million LGBT adults over 65 alive in the U.S. and by 2030 this number will reach over four million.[1]
Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH), a Hollywood-based non-profit organization founded in 2001, identified a window of opportunity to bring culturally sensitive services to community-dwelling LGBT seniors. GLEH’s mission is to develop and maintain high-quality, affordable residences that provide a safe and nurturing environment for LGBT and HIV positive older adults. GLEH’s Triangle Square, open since 2007, is the organization’s flagship affordable housing complex and the nation’s first affordable housing development of private apartments established specifically to serve the LGBT senior population. GLEH extends LGBT seniors’ capacity to remain in the community by reducing barriers to accessing supportive services; specifically GLEH coordinates the delivery of on-site, culturally sensitive social, health and psychological services from third parties as well as internal staff.
Although the doors of Triangle Square have been open for over two years, the organization is still in its nascent stage of development. As such, formal methods for data collection and data analysis are in early draft form or non-existent. Under the supervision of Sheila Moore, Director of Programs and Services, and Rafael Cosio, Director of Development, the body of work I accomplished over the course of the summer attended to this gap in the organization’s internal processes.
My formal project goal for the summer was to increase the organizational capacity of GLEH to assess and evaluate the impact of the services and programs provided to residents at Triangle Square to produce evidence to elevate the organization’s service model to a nationally recognized program. To reach this goal, the objectives of the project included the development of surveys that ranged from a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment to an intake form for new residents to a pre and post program survey. Additionally I contributed to the development of an inter-organizational older adult social support program, produced content for GLEH’s new website as well as two grant applications. Beyond experiential learning, through observation of the executive staff, conversations with board members and assisting in day-to-day activities I learned volumes about organizational management, collaboration within the service provider network, board member management and event planning and execution.
Overall, the open, upbeat, creative and collaborative culture at GLEH provided an excellent venue to apply the frameworks and experiences learned in the classroom over the past year. With these tools in hand, I was able to successfully navigate through territory unknown to me in the field of public health, significantly contribute to the organization and continue to develop my professional sense of self.
Elizabeth Anderson
Dr. Steven Wallace (Advisor)
September 24, 2009
[1] Anetzberger, G.J., Blair, M., Ishler, K.J., & Mostade, J. (2004). Gray and gay: A community dialogue on the issues and concerns of older gays and lesbians. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 17, 23-45.