Bill > S473

This bill establishes a permanent commission on older LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) adults and their caregivers in Massachusetts. The commission will consist of 20 members, including state officials, representatives from LGBTQ and elder care organizations, and 5 members appointed by the governor, with specific requirements such as including an elder law attorney, an LGBTQ policy expert, and 3 LGBTQ older adults, ensuring geographic representation from Cape Cod, western, and central Massachusetts. The commission's primary purpose is to investigate and analyze the comprehensive needs of older LGBTQ adults and their caregivers, with a broad mandate to examine health, housing, financial, psychosocial, and long-term care challenges. Specifically, the commission will assess policies affecting LGBTQ older adults, develop strategies to increase provider awareness and competence, evaluate service funding and programming, explore best practices for reducing isolation and preventing abuse, recommend home and community-based care alternatives, develop training curricula for service providers, and create outreach protocols to help older LGBTQ adults feel more comfortable accessing mainstream services.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S473