Lavender Seniors is a program of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center
- info@lavenderseniors.org
- 510-882-2286
Lavender Seniors is a program of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center
Our free monthly newsletter Lavender Notes is written for LGBTQ+ seniors. Lavender Notes keeps LGBTQ+ seniors connected to their community with informative articles of interest to older adults and LGBTQ+ seniors. It features special interviews, book reviews, volunteer opportunities, and timely information on upcoming events and programs.
At Lavender Seniors, we strive to build a community whose members and volunteers support one another. Our goal is to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation that many of us experience as we get older. The Friendly Visitors program does this by matching trained volunteers with LGBTQ+ seniors who may be frail, homebound, isolated, or otherwise concerned about aging at home with limited social support.
Volunteers serve as hospitality agents providing visits, telephone support and shopping assistance. We encourage our volunteers to create social networks for our seniors. By helping to build networks of support, we better enable LGBTQ+ seniors to “Age in Place” and improve their quality of life. Friendly Visitors also provide social support to those in residential care facilities.
Friendly Visitor Program is on hold and will resume in Early 2024
Lavender Seniors’ monthly lunches offer nutritious food in a safe and welcoming environment paired with insightful and entertaining programs such as performances, lectures, or discussions. RSVP is required to attend. Check the most up to date RSVP link. For more info please call 510-882-2286 or email: info@lavenderseniors.org.
Third Friday of each month, 12:30PM-2:30PM
North Oakland Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609
Several times per year Lavender Seniors of the East Bay offers a free 10-week support group to explore issues of aging and caring for each other in the LGBTQ+ community. These are currently offered on Zoom.
Through personal exploration, group support and education we discuss topics of interest for people caring for other LGBTQ+ person(s) and/or for themselves.
Such topics include facing illness, caring for self while caring for another, planning for the future, and legal issues for LGBTQ+ elders.
Paraphrase of an applicable quote from SAGE Project, New York City:
The lack of social/legal acceptance – historically and currently – of LGBTQ+ people has profoundly impacted LGBTQ+ older adults.
Without strong economic security, access to competent affirming healthcare, and social support, LGBTQ+ elders face more challenges when aging when compared with their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
A few comments from participants follow:
“This support was critical to my success in caregiving, and critical to my personal well-being physically and emotionally while caregiving.”
“I hoped to break my social isolation, meet some new LGBT older adults, and focus on my self-care. My expectations were beyond met.’’
“Is it okay to have a fulfilling life as a senior? I learned that the answer is ‘Yes.’”
Group facilitator is Dr. Melinda Ginne. She is a clinical psychologist with a 40-year career specializing in geriatrics and the treatment of the psychological aspects of acute chronic and life-threatening illness. She is one of the founding instructors in the Professional Program in Aging and Mental Health at UC Berkeley Extension. She has been active in the LGBTQ+ community since 1975.
For program information and sign-up, Call: 1-510-736-5428 or email info@lavenderseniors.org (Write “Caring Program” on the subject line) leave your phone number, e-mail address, and full name.
Our award-winning cultural competency training program increases awareness about the specific needs of LGBTQ+ seniors among aging and health service providers.
We reach out to LGBTQ+ seniors by hosting educational seminars, participating in various community events, and developing relationships with health and human service providers.
Lavender Seniors educates the community, government officials, legislators, and health care providers about LGBTQ+ aging issues.
Through our Lavender Scrolls and Emblem Projects we increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ older adults in our communities. The Scrolls are a touring visual display depicting the lives of 8 LGBTQ+ seniors.
Lavender Seniors provides training to LGBTQ+ seniors interested in improving their community through civic engagement. After training, we will facilitate opportunities for LGBTQ+ seniors interested in serving on government advisory boards and commissions, coalitions, speaking at community events and providing direct service to others.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Like others facing the challenges of aging, LGBTQ+ seniors deserve respectful, high quality health and human services.
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