Friends Life Care Earns SAGECare Platinum Credential for 5th Year: A Commitment to LGBTQ+ Adults’ Long-Term Care Needs 

Friends Life Care Partners is proud to announce that we earned SAGECare’s Platinum Credential for the fifth year in a row. This designation was awarded after 80% of the Friends Life Care Partners team completed the “Guidance and Grace: Preparing LGBTQ+ Older Adults for End of Life” training. Staff from every department completed the course, securing this distinguished designation for our organization. This achievement reinforces our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for older adults as we support their long-term care needs. 

How Does SAGECare Support LGBTQ+ Seniors as They Age in Place?  

Since 1978, SAGECare has trained professionals in senior living, health care, and related fields on how to create a culture of belonging for LGBTQ+ older adults. They advocate for creating more inclusive environments for adults as they age. As stated on their website, “The immediate outcomes and larger impact of SAGECare training are continually evaluated by an independent third party and have been deemed highly effective in creating positive changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills surrounding LGBTQ+ aging cultural competency.” (https://sagecare.org/)  

By offering evolving training courses, SAGECare ensures organizations possess the knowledge necessary to support the LGBTQ+ community. The organization remains a leader in championing essential policies and resources.

“Guidance and Grace: Preparing LGBTQ+ Older Adults for End of Life.” 

LGBTQ+ people often face a unique set of challenges as they reach the latter half of their lives. These challenges and their specific needs can sometimes be overlooked by those meant to care for them. SAGECare created the “Guidance and Grace: Preparing LGBTQ+ Older Adults for  End of Life” training course to help professionals working with LGBTQ+ older adults recognize the intricacies of LGBTQ+ relationships and their journey through end-of-life planning.  

Friends Life Care Partners chose this topic as this year’s credential training course so our team could learn firsthand about the adversities LGBTQ+ individuals may face when planning for the end of life, coping with a significant illness, and end of life/funeral services. This knowledge is crucial when serving those with non-legally recognized relationships or those who are estranged from their biological family.

Friends Life Care is Committed to Supporting LGBTQ+ Adults’ Long-Term Care Needs

Friends Life Care’s mission is to “advance long-term care and wellness through innovative solutions that anticipate and respond to lifelong health care needs. Ensuring service excellence and sustainability through our commitment to Quaker values”. One of the core principles of those Quaker values is equality, making it essential for us to serve and welcome individuals while fostering an inclusive environment throughout the communities we support in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The SAGECare training gives our team the skills to maintain an inclusive space. Over the last five years, they have equipped us with practical tools, cultural insights, and strategies to promote that every older adult is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding. We want our members to know they are in an affirming safe space, and their health and well-being is our top priority.