The LGBT+ Aging Coalition of Ventura County is a program of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.
Mission: The LGBT+ Aging Coalition of Ventura County provides education and advocacy in order to create an LGBT+ friendly Ventura County.
Background: Formed in late 2015, the LGBT+ Aging Coalition brought together allies and members of the LGBT+ community in order to address the unique needs of members of our LGBT+ aging community in Ventura County. Older LGBT+ adults in this community face difficult challenges on top of needs tied to aging that contribute to a reliance on outside services, such as discrimination and stigma, and biases from service providers that they rely on for often very personal needs.
The LGBT+ Aging Coalition of Ventura County believes that all people deserve an opportunity to age with dignity, free from discrimination and surrounded by not only the people they love, but also with service providers that support their needs. The LGBT+ Aging Coalition participates in community events that highlight the experiences and resilience of LGBT+ aging community members. We also provide education to service providers on client centered practices aimed at cultivating welcoming and affirming spaces where LGBT+ older adults feel comfortable sharing their needs. The LGBT+ Aging Coalition believes that this education and awareness fosters dignity and respect that yield more welcoming and accessible services so that LGBT+ people can thrive as they age in the community.