ElderPRIDE
ElderPRIDE is Eldercare’s commitment to supporting our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse and intersex (LGBTIQ) residents, family members, staff and volunteers to ensure they feel welcomed and safe.
ElderPRIDE acknowledges that the LGBTIQ community is diverse, but people can encounter similar challenges, such as discrimination.
We also understand that attributes such as sexual orientation, sexual characteristics and gender identity are important, but these do not define people as individuals.
Eldercare is proud to be a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation to promote LGBTIQ inclusiveness.
In September 2022, Eldercare received Rainbow Tick reaccreditation in recognition of its LGBTIQ inclusive practice and its efforts to ensure Eldercare is a safe and welcoming place for members of the LGBTIQ community.
Our ElderPRIDE objectives
We see ourselves as an ally of the LGBTIQ community; partnering to change discriminatory attitudes and negative behaviours.
We believe we have a significant role to play in promoting a deeper understanding of the ways in which past and present experiences of discrimination can impact our LGBTIQ residents, family members, staff and volunteers.
ElderPRIDE has three key objectives:
- To treat individuals for who they are.
- To be inclusive, regardless of whether a person discloses their sexuality or gender identity.
- To provide integrated residential care and retirement living services that encompass individualised wellbeing approaches that support the mind, body and spirit.
Eldercare inclusiveness in action
Inclusiveness aligns with Eldercare’s organisational values of respect, accountability and connection.
We welcome and respect the diversity that our residents, family members, staff and volunteers bring to Eldercare.
We model and expect respectful behaviour from everyone who lives, visits or works at Eldercare.
We do not accept any form of behaviour that vilifies or discriminates against someone else based on their gender, sexuality, age, race or ethnicity.
We promote inclusiveness by:
- promoting respectful and welcoming environments through our service delivery
- conducting LGBTIQ awareness staff training
- consulting members of the LGBTIQ community
- modifying current services and creating new ones for the LGBTIQ community
- creating new and updating existing policies and procedures relating to LGBTIQ issues
- reflecting our commitment to raising LGBTIQ awareness in our marketing materials
- participating in LGBTIQ events across Eldercare and in the wider community
Resources
- Information on the LGBTIQ People Ageing Well Project by the Council on the Ageing (COTA)
Thank you to Veolia and Atlas McNeil for supporting the ElderPRIDE Project.
Eldercare continues to consult with older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTIQ) people to guide our strategies for making our residential care welcoming and safe for our diverse community. Pictured above are the members of Eldercare's LGBTIQ Advisory Group.