LGBTQ+ Caregivers
LGBTQ+ healthcare goes beyond just the care that patients receive. Caregiving, especially for family caregivers, is an example of this. It can be a very rewarding while simultaneously challenging experience.
LGBTQ+ caregivers face unique obstacles. These stem from healthcare laws that privilege biological families to a lack of resources for LGBT-specific healthcare needs. Because LGBT people are twice as likely to age alone and four times less likely to have children, LGBT elders become senior family caregivers more often than their heterosexual counterparts.
Important Facts for LGBTQ+ Caregivers
- Family caregiving beyond traditional norms: “Family” extends past immediate family in the case of caregiving, and LGBTQ+ caregivers often are tasked as caregivers to close friends, unmarried partners, and anyone else considered family. In fact, the name Chosen Family stems from the fact that many LGBT individuals have family that extend beyond traditional meanings. Families are not one size fits all, including those that do not share a biological or legal relationship. Chosen Family recognizes this and celebrates the diversity and strength that derives from an individual’s particular chosen family.
- LGBT people become caregivers more often: Families often see LGBTQ+ adults as single and rely on them for caregiving, regardless of their relationship status. That makes them disproportionately in a place to be familial caregivers.
- LGBTQ+ caregivers are more likely to be the sole home care provider for an individual and be in the same age range as the recipient of care: the ability to find others that can assist, including professional providers like Chosen Family, is vital in preventing coverage lapses that could result in unforeseen issues such as caregiver health problems and emergencies, while offering both respite care and alleviating burnout for the caregiver.
- Caregivers tend to have poorer mental and physical health than non-caregivers: With prevalent health disparities observed in LGBTQ+ populations, this is a cause for concern amongst LGBT caregivers. All caregivers should ensure adequate self care, including LGBTQ+ caregivers, despite focusing attention on caring for others.
Helping and Supporting LGBTQ+ Caregivers
Chosen Family recognizes the unique impact that caregiving has on its LGBTQ+ caregivers. While LGBTQ+ caregivers might face amplified challenges as a result of family caregiving, we understand that all caregivers are community heroes and that the work they do is could not be of greater importance.
Because of these facts, LGBTQ+ caregivers may be in even greater need of support. This could be for long-term home care assistance. It might also be to help LGBTQ+ caregivers get a break through respite care. In any case, Chosen Family Home Care not only understands the challenges that a family caregiver might face but also recognizes how it could be more impactful for those that identify as LGBTQ+.
Working as an LGBTQ+ Senior Caregiver
Chosen Family Home Care serves a diverse group of clients across Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They range from all stripes of the LGBTQ+ community of course. Plus, as culturally competent providers of home health and home care assistance, we are always recruiting caregivers that believe in the mission of Chosen Family Home Care. We also seek out home health aides that are as diverse and the senior and disabled home care clients we work with everyday.
Understanding this, Chosen Family Home Care is a great place to work on top of being both inclusive and caring. We foster work/life balance, encourage emotional and mental support, and promote respite care and general well being for all of our valued caregivers. By doing so, Chosen Family Home Care helps ensure the best care standards for our LGBTQ+ and senior patients through improved caregiving. Overall, we support and promote our strongest assets: our caregivers.
Check out our careers page to learn more about opportunities at Chosen Family Home Care.
