Reports

2SLGBTQIA+ seniors focused reports

  • Dignity Seniors Society, March 2023 | Read the Report

    Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is dedicated to affecting systemic change that creates culturally appropriate services for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors across British Columbia.

    In 2022 DSS sponsored a needs assessment to document current needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors in British Columbia. Individuals who were 55 years or older, lived in British Columbia, and identified as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities were invited to participate in interviews or an online survey.

    A total of 51 individuals participated in one-on-one interviews, and 115 individuals completed an online survey. Interviews identified 3 prominent clusters of concern:

    • health and health care;

      loss of mobility and independence compromising the ability to age in place; and

      loneliness, social isolation, and lack of community.

    Three sub-themes consisted of:

    • access to culturally competent and safe long-term care;

    • access to safe and affordable housing; and

    • concern about long-term financial resources.

    Survey responses reflected a need for trained, affordable, respectful home support services to age in place and nursing homes, care homes, assisted living facilities and housing communities dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors and perhaps their allies. The survey responses also emphasized the need for access to health care, especially 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive health care and the need for social connections and a community network.

    The Board of Directors of Dignity Seniors Society generated 25 recommendations in the areas of governmental responsibility, training and education, social inclusion, and long-term care/housing based upon the findings of this needs assessment.

    Citation

    Additional reading

  • Egale Canada, August 2023 | Read the Report

    What does "aging and living well" look like for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) older adults in Canada? What could it look like? And what social changes are needed to better enable LGBTQI older adults to live and age well, on their terms? ...

    The purpose of this national interview-based study was to expand and deepen our understanding of how LGBTQI older adults themselves conceptualize "wellbeing", and what is needed for our communities to live well into old age. ...

    This report provides a high-level summary of the research findings and recommendations. It has 3 main parts.

    1. Methodology & Orientations describes the research approach and process.

    2. Findings discusses 5 overarching themes:

      • Employment;

      • Housing;

      • Social connection and disconnection;

      • Healthcare access; and

      • Death and end-of-life wellbeing.

    3. In the final part, we provide summary Conclusions and Next Steps. ...

    Report

  • Dignity Seniors Society, May 2025 | Read the Report

    Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is dedicated to affecting systemic change that creates culturally appropriate services for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors across British Columbia.

    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    Program Overview

    The "We Are Familee" pilot program, led by Dignity Seniors Society BC, addressed the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors through a volunteer companionship initiative. The seven-month pilot, conducted in collaboration with Haro Park Centre in Vancouver's West End, matched queer volunteers with queer seniors to provide culturally appropriate support and reduce isolation.

    Key Results

    • Participant Outcomes: 83% of participants reported improved mental health, 66% felt more independent and less lonely, 50% experienced physical health improvements, and 100% felt more positive after volunteer visits.

    • Volunteer Benefits: 100% reported increased connection to the queer community, all volunteers experienced a greater sense of purpose, and significant personal growth through learning about queer aging experiences.

    • Community Impact: 159 visits completed with 333 hours of volunteer one-to-one time, enhanced intergenerational connections through storytelling and cultural knowledge sharing, and increased 2SLGBTQIA+ awareness within the care facility.

    Critical Findings

    The evaluation revealed eight key findings, with the most significant being that queer-to-queer matches created safe spaces for participants to share personal histories and feel genuinely understood. The program successfully reduced isolation while fostering community connections, though it highlighted needs for better volunteer training on emotional boundaries and clearer guidance for facilitating outings.

    Next Steps

    Building on pilot success, Dignity Seniors Society plans to expand to sites in the Lower Mainland by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of 25 sites across BC. Key developments include comprehensive queer-specific volunteer training programs, improved matching tools and resource directories, stronger program infrastructure and policies, and scaling the "Rainbow Circles" model within existing aging-in-place services.

    Impact Potential

    The We Are Familee program represents a replicable model for addressing systemic gaps in culturally appropriate care for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors. With proper scaling and structured implementation, it has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for Two-Spirit, queer and Trans seniors across British Columbia while strengthening intergenerational community bonds.

    Citation

Seniors focused reports

  • Office of the Seniors Advocate of B.C., June 2024

    The DSS Board fully supports the latest report from the B.C. Seniors Advocate: “Ageing matters: What we heard from B.C. Seniors.”

    The ‘Ageing Matters’ report reaffirms B.C. seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately impacted by the high cost of living and unable to absorb increased costs for housing, food, medical equipment, mobility aids and other necessities for healthy ageing. …

    The report makes 5 recommendations …

    Report

  • Action for Reform of Residential Care Association, 2020

    Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is advocating for the reform of B.C. long term care facilities and supports the following ARRC BC report. Note DSS’ position paper on pp. 71-72.

    Action for Reform of Residential Care (ARRC), 2021, Improving quality of life in long term care: A way forward

    This report explores the following items.

    • Our current situation in long term care (LTC) including quality of facility care, staffing, and resources.

    • What contributes to quality of care / quality of life, how staffing / routine impacts this.

    • How well policy, regulation, and monitoring processes support quality of life in LTC.

    • Recommendations for a paradigm shift that detail a model of care, staffing requirements, work force stabilization, standards/monitoring processes that address residents’ and families’ need for quality of life.

    Report

    Citation

  • Office of the Seniors Advocate of B.C., September 2023

    The Board of Directors of the Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) fully supports the latest report from the B.C. Seniors Advocate: “Billions more reasons to care.”

    Specifically, the DSS Board supports the 4 main recommendations put forward by the B.C. Seniors Advocate.

    1. Public money subsidizing long-term facilities designated for direct care must be spent on direct care, and not on other expenses. If not used for direct care, those funds must be returned.

    2. There must be complete transparency in monitoring standards, and in reporting on performance using those standards. Reporting must also be standardized.

    3. Define profit. Are management fees profit? Are mortgage payments for private facilities profit?

    4. The financial status and reports of long-term care facilities that are publicly subsidized must be made public.

    DSS Board member Adriaan de Vries has written an easy to read synopsis of the report.

    Report