Complying with N.J.’s Law on LGBTQ Older Adults’ Rights in Long Term Care (LTC)

Overview:

On March 3, 2021, New Jersey enacted legislation to establish certain requirements concerning the rights of lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender, undesignated/non-binary, questioning, queer, intersex, and HIV-positive residents of long-term care facilities. One component of the statute requires education that will help New Jersey ensure all long-term senior care facilities in the state will be ready to deliver quality LGBTQ-affirming care. Facilities are required to designate two employees to receive this education by Sept. 2021. One employee must represent management and one must represent management and one must represent direct care staff. All staff will be required to receive education within one year, i.e., by March 2022 and every two years thereafter.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) seniors are among the most vulnerable elder populations, especially when it comes to ensuring their access to LGBTQ-affirming health care services and safe, welcoming housing and care opportunities. Due to having experienced decades of societal stigma, prejudice and fear, they are less likely to have current close family ties for support and more likely to face institutionally-embedded discrimination mechanisms in housing, while facing an array of other unique barriers that discrimination mechanisms in housing, while facing an array of other unique barriers that stand in the way of their enjoying a healthy and rewarding life as they continue to age.

Objectives:

• Better understand the market, challenges and provider responsibilities resulting from LGBTQ training requirements required by S2545/A4288 at New Jersey long-term care facilities
• Gain a more in-depth understanding of the various physical, emotional and societal issues impacting the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults
• Be able to articulate the benefits for facilities to utilize LGBTSCH’s multi-stage LGBTQ sensitivity program TA assessment process to help them establish an LGBTQ affirming program that meets not only the requirements of S2545/A4288 but the needs of their LGBTQ+ older adult residents

LEARNER OUTCOME:

Upon completion of the program, the learner will be sensitized to the various physical, emotional and societal issues impacting the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults and will be able to list two best practices for establishing an LGBTQ affirming program, transferrable to their organization.

Successful completion of the webinar is defined as attendance for 95 percent of the webinar learning session and a completed course evaluation.

Target Audience:

Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes

Session I: July 14, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Developing LGBTQ+ Affirming Long-Term Facility Program

• Unpack the NJ Legislation on LGBTQ+ sensitivity training of long-term care facilities
• Discuss the market and challenges for implementing LGBTQ affirming programs
• Provider-based issues in delivering LGBTQ+ affirming care to LGBTQ+ older adults

Session II: July 21, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Intro to LGBTQ+ older adults: Understanding Their Challenges, Care Disparities Service Needs, and use of Culturally Affirming Terms

• Examine how sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, sexual identity, gender expression and culturally sensitive terminology are used in relation to the LGBT older adult community
• Identify common health disparities among LGBTQ older adults that service providers at long term care facilities should be aware of to ensure contributing factors that addressed and resolved where possible
• Understand how current and historic forces of societal and institutional trans/homophobia, privilege and implicit bias have shaped how LGBTQ+ older adults perceived and engage with their providers

Session III: July 28, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Applying S2545/A4288 to NJHA and Leading Age NJDE Key Leadership

• Understanding training implications of the new legislation
• Project alignment requirements to foster an LGBTQ affirming spaces to LTC facilities
• Outlining key leadership next steps to initiate LGBTSHC TA and training courses

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS:

New Jersey State Nurses Association Accreditation Statement:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation and New Jersey State Nurses Association through the Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey (HRET). HRET is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New Jersey State Nurses Accreditation an accredited approver by the American Nursing Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity provides 1.5 contact hours per session. Provisional number – P131-3/2022

There are no conflicts of interest, sponsorship or financial/commercial support being supplied for this activity. Accredited status does not imply endorsement by the provider or American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation of any commercial products displayed in conjunction with an activity.

Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board Statement:

This continuing education program is sponsored/conducted by the Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey and is in compliance with N.J.A.C. 8:34-7.3 to provide licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA) and certified assisted living administrator (CALA) education credits accepted by the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board. This education activity may only be used for continuing education credit and not to meet academic college credits.

This education activity has been approved for 1.5 CALA credits per session;

This education activity has been approved for 1.5 Ethics LNHA credits per session.

DISCLOSURE INFORMATION: Full disclosure will be provided at the educational activity.