AGS Releases New Position Statement on Care of LGBT Older Adults
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) recently released a new position statement that commented on the unfair burden of discrimination in society and healthcare on LGBT older adults and argues that health professionals are in positions to pioneer fairer and more equitable treatment of these older adults.
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) recently released a new position statement that commented on the unfair burden of discrimination in society and healthcare on LGBT older adults and argues that health professionals are in positions to pioneer fairer and more equitable treatment of these older adults.
“Like aging, sexual orientation, gender, and other stigmatized personal characteristics can pose barriers to high-quality, patient-centered care. These unnecessary barriers need to be addressed head-on, particularly as the number of older adults requiring complex, sensitive care continues to grow,” said Joseph Shega, MD, who chairs the AGS Ethics Committee responsible for the statement. “This AGS initiative is about more than equitable standards of care. It’s about supporting and sustaining a dialogue that can open quality health care to those who have been disenfranchised, and keep it accessible for generations to come.”
Rooted in the belief that high-quality care for older LGBT adults necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration, the AGS statement outlines concrete measures for organizations, advocacy groups, and medical specialties committed to discrimination-free health care.
To read the full release, head over to the AGS website.