How does aging affect the LGBTQ+ community and what can we do to help them age with dignity?

In this episode, Tim Volk speaks with Arden O’Connor and Sam Van Kalkeren, MSN, RN, CDP, CADDCT about the challenges of aging with dignity for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Arden and Sam discuss the challenges faced by aging LGBTQ+ individuals, highlight the lack of education among care providers and the public about these issues, and emphasize the need for senior living communities to invest in staff education around culturally competent care for the LGBTQ+ community and to be more inclusive and safer for their LGBTQ+ residents.

Arden and Sam’s key takeaways: 

• The public and care providers need more education about the issues facing aging members of the LGBTQ+ community.
  
• Senior living communities need to invest in staff education around culturally competent care for the LGBTQ+ community.
  
• Senior living communities need to be more inclusive and safer for their LGBTQ+ residents.
  
• Senior communities should have zero-tolerance policies for harassment and discrimination against anyone.
  
• States need more legislation protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from being denied culturally competent care, especially from organizations or communities that accept government funding.
  
• Like their heterosexual counterparts, LGBTQ+ individuals need support in planning for their future and understanding the costs.
  
• Why it’s so important for LGBTQ+ members to have all their legal affairs in order and up to date to ensure their wishes are respected.
  
• And more
  

Resources:

• National Resource Center for LQBTQ Aging
  
• SAGE 
  
• Long-Term Care Equality Index
  
• Pryde – LGBTQ senior housing
  

Connect with Tim Volk: 

• T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: Tim Volk
  
• tim.volk@tvolkco.com
  
• Phone: 312-636-5855
  

Connect with Arden O’Connor and Sam Van Kalkeren: 

• O’Connor Professional Group
  
• LinkedIn: O’Connor Professional Group
  
• LinkedIn: Arden O’Connor
  
• LinkedIn: Sam Van Kalkeren
  
• Email Arden: aoconnor@oconnorpg.com
  
• Email Sam: svankalkeren@oconnorpg.com
  
• Phone: 617-934-1016
  

About our Guests: 

Arden O’Connor founded the O’Connor Professional Group to address the needs of families and individuals struggling with various behavioral health issues, including addiction, mental health disorders, eating disorders, learning, and other developmental challenges. With several relatives in recovery, Arden is passionate about helping families and individuals navigate the highly fragmented treatment system in a way that creates positive outcomes and allows families to heal. Arden is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. She remains heavily involved in community activities, as a board member of Winsor School Corporation, Collaboration for Family Flourishing, and Massachusetts Association of Mental Health. Previously, she served as a board member for the Justice Resource Institute (former chair), C4 Recovery Solutions, Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, Harvard Club of Boston, Victory Programs, and Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Boston.

Sam Van Kalkeren, MSN, RN, CDP, CADDCT is OPG’s Director of Aging Services. He has been working as a psychiatric RN since 2012 and is a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer and a Certified Dementia Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Sam has worked with all age populations, from pediatrics to geriatrics, suffering from mental illness. He has experience working with clients suffering from substance use and co-occurring disorders, complex mental health diagnoses, neurocognitive disorders, and personality disorders. Most of his nursing career has been in the inpatient psychiatric setting. Sam joined OPG from Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was the Clinical Nurse Director for the inpatient psychiatric department. Prior to Tufts, he was the Patient Care Director for the geriatric and adult inpatient psychiatric units at Carney Hospital, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Sam received his Master of Science in Nursing degree, specializing in Leadership and Management, from Aspen University. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs, from Florida State University. Sam has a passion for teamwork and helping others. He is dedicated to delivering high-quality care and superior service. Sam enjoys traveling the globe with his husband, cooking, CrossFit, and playing with his two dogs Max and Beertje.