No Place Like Home

Creating safe & affirming homes for 2SLGBTQIA+ elders in Long-Term Care

'No Place Like Home' aims to create inclusive and affirming environments for 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults in Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities, ensuring they receive the competent and dignified end-of-life care they deserve.

Though many are well-intentioned, LTC staff and healthcare practitioners claiming to treat everyone equally actually contribute to the erasure of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities by failing to acknowledge and accommodate their unique health needs and relationships.

Photo by Roberta SA on Canva @diversifylens

About 'No Place Like Home'

No Place Like Home ensures that every 2SLGBTQIA+ elder can live with dignity, knowing they are valued and respected in their long-term care environments.

Having endured a lifetime of struggle against repressive laws and societal rejection, today's older 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals have fought tirelessly for recognition and rights. As they approach the later stages of their lives, many carry the weight of decades of adversity, calling for our compassion, support, and immediate action. No Place Like Home answers this call.

One of the main concerns this program addresses is the fear and experiences of “forced re-closeting” for 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults in long-term care. This reluctant concealment of their sexual orientations and gender identities is often adopted to avoid discrimination or inferior care. While this may offer some protection from overt mistreatment or subtle neglect, it also leads to increased anxiety and social isolation.

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Transgender older adults are especially fearful of discrimination and loss of autonomy in LTC settings, with high rates of reported mistreatment exacerbating these anxieties. Meanwhile, because their bodies may not conform to conventional gender expectations, many trans elders in LTC are unable to protect themselves through non-disclosure. The absence of transgender-inclusive policies in LTC facilities and staff resistance to trans-affirming care pose significant mental health challenges for transgender residents.

No Place Like Home tackles these issues by providing training for LTC staff, promoting practices that respect and affirm 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, and fostering a culture of compassion and support. By recognizing and addressing the specific needs of queer and trans older adults, we aim to set a standard for truly inclusive and equitable care.

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"We worry about actual physical harm happening to us. Not only from staff, but from other residents, because remember, those straight people who were harassing us and beating us back then are now our ages too, right? Now we are the same age in long-term facilities together. That kind of hatred doesn't just disappear."

- Leslie Lee Kham, LGBTQ activist, Ottawa ON

Lezlie Lee Kham, LGBTQ activist. (Nick Purdon/CBC)

How 'No Place Like Home' Helps

Inclusive Advance Care Planning (ACP) Workshop

Research shows that heteronormative biases in ACP can discourage 2SLGBTQIA+ participation, as many documents assume traditional family structures that often don’t apply to 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences. Despite the availability of legal tools in many Western countries like enduring power of attorney and advance healthcare directives to protect 2SLGBTQIA+ people’s wishes, there is widespread confusion and a lack of awareness among 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors about these options.

Inclusive ACP ensures that same-sex and same-gender partners are treated as legitimate decision-makers, and that chosen families are included in the ACP process. In this workshop, we ensure that 2SLGBTQIA+ residents know how to exercise their rights and document their care preferences, giving them some peace of mind in the event that they lose the capacity to communicate their wishes.

2SLGBTQIA+-Affirming "Life in Review" Workshop & Workbook

The "Life in Review" workshop and workbook provide 2SLGBTQIA+ residents in long-term care facilities with a meaningful opportunity to plan their legacies and reflect on and celebrate their lives. This workshop/workbook honours the rich histories and unique experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, acknowledging the struggles and triumphs that have shaped their journeys.

Legacy planning is a deeply personal process, encompassing how you want to be remembered and what you wish to pass on to future generations. Guided by a trusted advocate familiar with 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences, workshop participants can safely document their personal values, write letters to loved ones, and make decisions about inheritance and charitable donations.

Meanwhile, the workbook not only helps in planning legacies but also serves as a testament to the courage and resilience of 2SLGBTQIA+ elders, ensuring their stories are cherished and remembered.

Photo by Laura Fuhrman on Unsplash

2SLGBTQIA+ Death Doula Support

2SLGBTQIA+ Death Doula Support is a crucial component of the No Place Like Home program, providing specialized care for 2SLGBTQIA+ residents in LTC facilities as they navigate their end-of-life journey. Our trained Death Doulas are skilled in supporting within the four domains of care: planning, legacy, vigil, and grief.

Becoming an integral part of the care team, our Death Doulas work directly with the individual facing death, their loved ones, and other care team members. Their role is to ensure that every aspect of the end-of-life experience is handled with dignity, compassion, and culturally sensitive human connection. This comprehensive support helps to create a more affirming and comforting environment, addressing the unique needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

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At the Bedside Care

'At the Bedside' care ensures that 2SLGBTQIA+ residents in LTC facilities are not alone in their final moments. Our dedicated 2SLGBTQIA+ Death Doulas offer respite care and vigil sitting for those with limited family, friends, or community support. This service directly supports individuals who are facing death, providing comfort and companionship in their last hours and minutes.

Many 2SLGBTQIA+ older adults experience profound isolation due to a lifetime of societal and familial rejection and the loss of their chosen family and community connections in later life. 'No Place Like Home' addresses this isolation by ensuring that every individual has a compassionate presence by their side, honouring their identity and life story until the very end. Our goal is to provide dignity, support, and human connection, so no one has to face death alone.

Photo by Nuttapong Punna's Images on Canva Pro @nuttapong-punnas-images

2SLGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency Training for LTC Staff & Volunteers

As a key part of this program, we provide end-of-life support training for staff and volunteers in LTC facilities with a strong 2SLGBTQIA+-affirming focus. This training equips caregivers with the knowledge and skills to meet the unique needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. To further support their efforts, we offer customized resources on fostering inclusive environments and provide post-training follow-up.

Photo by David Petrus Ibars on Canva Pro

'No Place Like Home' Program Team

Rhonda Garnier, Project Co-Lead

Sara Rodenhizer, Project Co-Lead

Sandra Spicer

Get Involved

Work with Us

Are you passionate about supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ elders at the end of life?

Join our No Place Like Home working group to take part in research, program development, fundraising, and help shape the direction of this initiative. You're welcome to attend our meetings to see if our work aligns with your interests. Please note that all general working group activities are currently volunteer-based.

As funding and program reach grow, paid opportunities may become available for direct support roles, such as facilitating workshops in LTC facilities, providing personalized end-of-life care, and sitting vigil.

To learn more or get involved, contact Sara, our project co-lead, at sara@homehospiceassociation.com.

Walk with Us

Join or support our "Dorothy's Dream Team" walking in support of the 'No Place Like Home' Program in this year's Moonlit Memory Walk fundraiser.

By joining or making a donation to our team, you will help ensure funds are available to educate staff and volunteers of LTC facilities and allow us to offer direct support to 2SLGBTQIA+ elders living in LTC settings.

Support Us

Support 2SLGBTQIA+ elders in receiving the compassionate and dignified care they deserve by donating to the No Place Like Home program. Your contribution helps create inclusive and affirming environments in long-term care facilities, ensuring that every individual can live their final years with pride and respect.

Please donate today.

Do you work at an LTC facility? Partner with No Place Like Home to ensure inclusive and equitable end-of-life care for all your residents. Your facility can benefit from our staff training, 2SLGBTQIA+- affirming workshops, integration of Death Doulas, and vigil support for actively dying residents. Together, we can create a truly supportive community for everyone!

To schedule an introductory meeting, please contact Rhonda, our co-lead, at info@lifesmomentsinlove.ca.

Partner With Us

Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash

Our Partners

Financial support for this project has been provided through the Pride and Remembrance Run.

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