New resources to help LTC facility staff work with LGBT older persons and their families

November 26, 2014

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently issued a Survey and Certification Tool, with an introduction by Secretary Greenlee of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) within the Department of Health and Human Services. The focus of the video learning modules is to provide useful information to long-term care facility staff about the power of assumptions and prejudices, both known and unknown, that may make older LGBT people feel fearful and afraid, so that such fears won't cause older LGBT patients to retreat to a “closeted lifestyle” in order to receive necessary long-term care services. The goal of the modules is to provide concrete examples of conduct that either show openness, tolerance, acceptance, or prejudice. Each of the modules sets out a set of facts and provides illustrative examples, followed by a short learning test to help staff focus their mastery of module content. The modules can be found at: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/Survey....