Description:
Evidence has shown that loneliness has enormous impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing of older adults. These concerns may be more pronounced for LGBT Elders, who faced isolation at higher levels as well as marked physical and behavioral health disparities prior to the pandemic. As the world begins to emerge from mandated social distancing, what kind of supports can assist older LGBT adults in developing life-saving connections to care providers and social networks? This webinar will describe the effects of isolation for LGBT Elders, self-care strategies to improve connectedness, and supportive therapeutic interventions to increase wellness, interdependence, self-efficacy, and the essential sense of mattering that makes life meaningful.

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Presenter:
Kate Bishop, MSSA, the Education Coordinator at the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton, is a seasoned professional development trainer with expertise in working with LGBTQ populations, sexual and reproductive health care, adolescent development, intimate partner violence, and sexual trauma. She is certified as a trainer through GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) as well as SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders). Before joining the Chase Brexton team, she developed the capacity building program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s STAR TRACK Adolescent HIV program, providing cultural responsiveness trainings for agencies that serve sexual minority youth of color. Ms. Bishop holds a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from Hiram College and a Masters in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the impacts of social distancing, isolation, and loneliness on the health and psychosocial needs of LGBT Elders
• Identify strategies older adults can put in place to increase their wellbeing through personal, familial, and community connections as pandemic restrictions fall away
• Explore effective treatment practices to assist LGBT Elders in creating a robust social support systems that can help them age with grace wherever they are

Who Should Attend?
Clinicians and other health and human service workers who serve older adult populations.

Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (45 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). CEUs are not offered for this session. The webinar slide presentation and recording will be posted to the website.