Oak Park-based AgeOptions has received SAGECare Platinum certification, a distinction recognizing organizational competency to serve LGBT+ older adults, a press release noted.
SAGECare is a division of SAGEthe nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of older LGBT+ adults.
"AgeOptions is committed to increasing our LGBT+ cultural competence and understanding and responding to the challenges faced by LGBT+ older adults," said Aging with Pride program specialist Kate Spelman. "We want to provide welcoming and inclusive services to individuals who, because of a lifetime of discrimination, may hide who they are when accessing Aging Network services."
To achieve certification, AgeOptions staff members and managers completed webinar training on how to provide welcoming and inclusive services. The Illinois Department on Aging provided funding for the one-hour staff webinar, with AgeOptions providing a four-hour training for managers and executive staff.
Another aspect of AgeOptions' commitment to serving LGBT+ older adults is the Thrive with Pride Cafes created to combat social isolation among LGBT+ older adults. This network of community sites provides social support and vital information to LGBT+ older adults and caregivers in suburban Cook County.