Aging with Pride: Why Inclusive Care Isn’t Optional
Years ago, I learned a fact that I have never been able to escape.
I was working in senior care when I discovered that Ohio does not have laws preventing senior living facilities from denying admission based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Let me say that again: someone could be refused a place to live - because of who they love or how they identify.
That moment lit a fire in me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Because here’s the truth: getting older is hard enough. Navigating healthcare, long-term care, and end-of-life decisions is overwhelming for anyone. For LGBTQIA+ older adults, these stressors can be exponentially complicated by fear and isolation as they experience the reality that they might not be welcomed in the places that are supposed to care for them.
The Stat That Breaks My Heart
9 in 10 LGBTQIA+ older adults fear discrimination in senior care settings.
Many avoid critical services because they are afraid they will not be treated with dignity.
Chosen families - those deeply important relationships built when biological families fall away - are often not recognized in legal care decisions.
Mental health support for LGBTQIA+ elders is often lacking.
Isolation and loneliness rates are significantly higher.
These are not just statistics. These are real people: people who have lived through decades of discrimination, who have fought for basic rights, and who now risk being invisible in a system they paid into their entire lives.
Why I Started My Business
When I founded KSH Aging Solutions, I knew I wanted to build something different. I did not just want to help people navigate elder care. I wanted to make space for every person to be treated with respect and compassion, no matter their background, orientation or identity.
Being seen should not be a privilege.
Support should not come with conditions.
And dignity should never be up for debate.
What Pride Means in Aging Care
Pride Month is about celebration, yes - but it’s also about reflection, about remembering the work that still needs to be done, about recommitting to creating a world where aging with pride is not rare - it’s expected.
As someone who has spent their life working with families, caregivers, and aging adults, I can tell you this: inclusive care is not a checkbox. It is a mindset. It is a commitment. It is how we show up.
And at KSH Aging Solutions, that’s exactly what we do.
If you or a loved one needs help navigating aging, long-term care, or advocacy, my door is always open. Let’s make sure no one has to walk this road alone - especially not because of who they are.
