Recognition earned from participation in inaugural Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI)
Ingleside, a premier provider of comprehensive senior living services in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, is proud to announce its participation and designation as a “LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality High Performer” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE’s Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI). The LEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of residential long-term care and senior housing communities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ residents, visitors and employees. This year, 200 senior housing communities across 34 states participated in the LEI.
“Ingleside has always been, and will continue to be, committed to fostering a culture of inclusion,” said Ingleside President and CEO Lynn O’Connor. “We recognize and celebrate each person’s individual uniqueness and strive to help them live a happy and fulfilling life. It’s who we are as an organization, something that is ingrained in the fabric of the Ingleside family.”
Many older LGBTQ+ adults are fearful of living as their authentic selves or are faced with outright discrimination. In a study by AARP, 76 percent of older LGBTQ+ people expressed concern about having adequate social support to rely on as they age. The same study found that 73 percent of LGBTQ+ older people do not have access to LGBTQ+-specific services for older people.
“With anti-LGBTQ+ extremism on the rise, it is more important than ever to create safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people and that includes the places we age. It’s powerful to see more than 200 communities come together with HRC and SAGE to deliver on values of inclusion and equity,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Our older LGBTQ+ community – the ones whose shoulders we stand on – are so often forgotten, and they deserve more from all of us. The participation in our first-ever LEI is a huge step forward in uplifting and protecting the needs and rights of our elders. And we aren’t done – we look forward to seeing expanded participation in the LEI in years to come.”
The LEI measures the following policy and practice areas as benchmarks of LGBTQ+ inclusion in senior housing settings:
- Non-Discrimination & Staff Training
- Ensuring legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents, visitors and staff along with staff training is a critical step in laying down the foundation for inclusivity.
- Resident Services & Support
- This section of the LEI asks about policies and practices that demonstrate progress toward LGBTQ+ resident care and support.
- Employee Benefits & Policies
- LGBTQ+ employees, like LGBTQ+ residents, should receive equal treatment and access to health-related benefits and policies.
- Resident & Community Engagement
- This section of the LEI asks about best practices a community takes to demonstrate its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community publicly.
For more information on the LEI and to view the 2023 report, click here. For more information on Ingleside’s efforts to embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, visit their website.