Health

Seniors have multiple and specific health needs and gender and sexually diverse individuals also have their specific health needs such as trans health, HIV impacts and mental health issues.

DSS is committed to exploring the intersection of these needs to determine the unique health needs of our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.

We advocate for these needs to be met through policy and procedures developed by Government, Health Authority and seniors’ service providers.

2SLGBTQIA+ seniors’ health resources

DSS is disappointed by the continued lack of research and service provision for aging queer women in B.C. We believe that there are specific health disparities in queer senior women’s communities that need addressing, and we are advocating for improvements in this area of health in B.C.
- In 1999 the B.C. Ministry of Health released a paper: Caring for Lesbian Health: A resource for health care providers, policy makers and planners.
- Rainbow Health Ontario provides a brochure - Healthy Relationships for Lesbians: Information and Resources - which provides some tips for dealing with conflicts and for creating healthy relationships
- If you are in the Victoria, B.C. area you may want to connect with the Victoria Lesbian Seniors Care Society.
- Health Initiative for Men (HiM)
  - HIM is a nonprofit society that aims to strengthen the health and well-being in communities of self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC. We offer a full spectrum of health-based programming and services to meet the sexual, mental, physical and social health needs of communities of self-identified GBQ men and gender diverse people in BC.
- The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is the first and only provincial First Nations health authority in Canada. The FNHA is working to transform and reform the way health care is delivered to First Nations people in B.C. . The FNHA's Research & Knowledge Exchange team (email: RKE@fnha.ca) produced an informative 2SLGBTQQIA+ Health & Wellness Information sheet.
- The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) is a not-for-profit society that provides a wide variety of services and supports to 14 Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations with approximately 10,000 members.
- Aging with Affirmation: a study to examine the social service experiences and needs of older transgender and gender diverse adults in Canada.
- The Catherine White Holman Wellness Society provides low-barrier wellness and legal services to Two-Spirit, transgender and gender non-conforming people in a way that is respectful and celebratory of clients’ identity and self-expression.
  We offer free services to people who need them, regardless of factors like citizenship or health insurance.
- Trans Care BC - a service of the B.C. Provincial Health Authority - connects trans people, their loved ones and clinicians with information, education, training and support. Resources for trans, Two-Spirit, and non-binary people.
- Trans Rights BC. This project aims to disseminate human rights information that is accurate, accessible, and relevant to the safety and well-being of trans and gender-diverse individuals and their supportive allies across British Columbia.
- Vancouver Coastal Health provides comprehensive trans-related services and resources.
- Vancouver Island trans resources, provided by the Chair in Transgender Studies at the University of Victoria.
- In crisis, or having thoughts of suicide? Text or call 9-8-8.
  (Click here for more information.)
General
- Advance care planning
- Accessing Health Services Not Covered By MSP: A Resource Guide for BC Seniors, by the Jewish Seniors Alliance
- The Gerontology Research Centre at Simon Fraser University - headed by Professor Emeritus Gloria Gutman, Ph.D. - has done some excellent work around 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors, and has an excellent resource page.
- Egale Canada creates excellent resources. DSS hopes to work more closely with Egale to produce B.C.-specific 2SLGBTQIA+ senior’s resources.
- The Government of Canada provides many caregiver resources for Canadian seniors.
- The Office of the Seniors Advocate of BC also provides many reports.
Physical health
- HIV, hepatitis C, and sexual health resources: while not specific to seniors, these sites provide good information for men, women, trans and GSD identified individuals.
  - Ribbon Community (formerly AIDS Vancouver)
  - Community Based Research Centre: promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development.
- HIV and Aging Program: the University of California San Francisco lists excellent articles and resources.
Mental health
- Seniors’ mental health and substance use: MindMapBC helps you find services that are affirming of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. For a general overview, see 1:02' - 1:56' in this Qmunity video (in partnership with Simon Fraser University).
- Social isolation of seniors: A focus on LGBTQ seniors in Canada: September 2023 report by the Government of Canada.