SAGE Caregiving
LGBTQ+ older people rely on families and friends for critical support in times of need. Running errands, picking up prescriptions, paying bills, cooking meals, or accompanying a friend to the doctor—this is just the kind of help we give to members of our community who are experiencing poor health or going through a rough patch. But sometimes providing this kind of caregiving for a friend or loved one can feel overwhelming.
Whether you are helping to take care of someone else or someone is helping to take care of you, if one of you lives in New York City, SAGE has a program and resources that can help, including:
- Homecare respite
- Social adult day respite
- Supplemental funds for home modifications, Personal Emergency Response Systems, glasses, incontinence products, transportation expenses, and more
- Caregiver support groups
- Case management
- Respite Buddies program
- Short-term counseling
- Referrals to and recommendations for safe and LGBT-affirming long-term care and home-based care services
To learn more, please contact us at 212-741-2247 and ask for the Care Manager on call.
SAGE’s Caregiving Program is generously funded by the New York City Department for the Aging.
SAGEPositive
By the year 2020, 70 percent of the people living with HIV in the United States will be over the age of 50. Older adults (age 50 and up) currently account for 17 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States. Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to keep you and your potential partners healthy.
The SAGEPositive Program encompasses a wide range of services for LGBT people over the age of 50 who are living with or potentially impacted by HIV. This includes:
- Support groups
- Sexual wellness workshops
- Social events
- Friendly Visiting
- HIV and STI testing
- PrEP seminars
- Case management
- Educational forums
- Caregiver support
Watch Bill Gross, our Assistant Director of Special Programs, explain more about the program in this video.
For more information, or to be put on our email list for notification about future SAGEPositive events, please contact Bill Gross at bgross@sageusa.org or 212-741-2247.
SAGEPositive is supported by DIFFA, Gilead, Janssen Therapeutics, New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
SAGEVets
SAGEVets is a statewide program to help LGBTQ+ older people who are veterans of military service improve their access to the VA and other veteran services, as well as support their overall health and wellness.
Who does SAGEVets serve?
SAGEVets serves LGBTQ+ veterans over the age of 50 who reside in New York State.
What does SAGEVets offer?
- Outreach and education to providers and individuals throughout New York State
- VA benefit eligibility evaluation
- Legal advice and counsel and/or representation regarding discharge status upgrades,
especially regarding discharges related to sexual orientation - Case management assistance
- Programs for older LGBTQ+ veterans
- “Know Your Rights” materials for LGBTQ+ veterans
- Support group for older LGBTQ+ veterans
Restoring Equal Rights To LGBTQ+ Veterans
As of June 1, 2020, the New York Division of Veteran Services for New York State is accepting applications for restoration of New York State benefits. Any individual with prior military service who was discharged under conditions that were other-than-honorable (OTH) or general under honorable conditions may apply for restoration of New York State veterans’ benefits if the discharge resulted from:
- Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Go here to learn more and apply, or email inclusion@veterans.ny.gov.
Contact the SAGEVets Program Manager Bryan Ellicott (They/He) – sagevets@sageusa.org or call 212-741-2247
SAGEVets programs made possible by public funds facilitated by the New York City Council’s Committee on Veterans and the New York State Legislature.
Friendly Visiting
Many older adults face the risk of social isolation, but this risk is even more pronounced for LGBTQ+ older people. LGBTQ+ elders are twice as likely to live alone, twice as likely to be single, and 3 to 4 times less likely to have children, compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Homebound or neighborhood-bound LGBTQ+ older adults can often have little weekly contact with the outside other than visits with health professionals, and virtually no contact with members of the LGBTQ+ community.
A solution: Friendly visiting programs are a proven way to alleviate this isolation and rebuild communities across generations. The SAGE Friendly Visitor program, founded in 1979 and the first of its kind in the U.S., matches volunteers from the community with LGBT older adults (“Friends at Home”) to form relationships that are mutually rewarding and build community. All Friends at Home are SAGE clients and are seen by a social worker. When someone calls asking for SAGE’s help (either the client, a friend, relative, neighbor or other service provider), a SAGE staff person or social worker visits the home for an initial assessment. Friendly Visitor referrals are made with the client’s consent. SAGE then matches the client with a Friendly Visitor.
Interested in becoming a Friendly Visitor? In recent months, Friendly Visiting has seen a large influx of volunteers. At the moment, we are currently not accepting new volunteer applications. Please check back, as we will reopen our volunteer applications when spots are available. If you are an LGBTQ+ elder in NYC interested in receiving Friendly Visiting Services, please call 212-741-2247, or email our Program Manager at FriendlyVisitorNYC@sageusa.org.