Staff Development/Training

Staff Development/Training

Our Services – LGBTQ+ Training Courses

SAGECare training tells real stories about real people to make LGBTQ+ older adults familiar and human – so that your staff can better relate to them.


SAGECare LGBTQ+ training courses are designed to be suitable for all levels of employees. 1 hour trainings can be delivered in-person, via live webinar, or through a digital training platform. 4 hour trainings for Executive/Administrative staff are facilitated in-person* by a SAGECare Certified Trainer.

Click each training title to view the learning objectives.

1 Hour Training for Employees/Staff:

These trainings provide an overview of the needs, concerns and unique history of LGBTQ+ older adults, as well as meaningful steps that staff can take to immediately improve the quality of support and services they provide. Staff are required to complete one hour of training annually:

Supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Older Adults

  • Explain the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
  • Understand why LGBTQ+ older adults may hide their identity
  • Incorporate LGBTQ+ concerns into person-directed care
  • Connect to local and national resources

Creating Inclusive Communities for LGBTQ+ Older Adults

  • Designed for staff working in nursing care or other residential care settings
  • Learn about the unique needs of LGBTQ+ older adults
  • Get an overview of the various rights and protections extended to LGBTQ+ residents
  • Learn other best practices for creating communities welcoming to LGBTQ+ older adults, their loved ones, and their caregivers

Apoyo para Adultos Mayores Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales y Transgéneros

  • Explicar los términos lesbiana, gay, bisexual y transgénero.
  • Entender por qué los adultos mayores LGBTQ+ podrían esconder su identidad.
  • Incorporar los asuntos relativos a la comunidad LGBTQ+ a los servicios directos que usted brinda.
  • Conectarse con recursos locales y nacionales.

Specialized Topics (1 hour each):

Participants who have already completed an introductory training have the option to take advanced trainings in specialized topics such as:

Enriching Care for LGBTQ+ Older Adults of Color

  • Learn key terms and statistics
  • Examine how racism and discrimination impact LGBTQ+ older people of color
  • Learn why LGBTQ+ older adults of color may have different needs and relationships with their identity
  • Explore best practices for making services more inclusive

Transgender Older Adults: Information and Suggestions for Providers

  • Answer common questions about the transgender experience and transitioning
  • Learn best practices for providing transgender affirming care
  • Discuss the unique needs of transgender older adults

Respected and Whole: Preventing Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias Between Constituents, Staff, and Across Aging Services

  • Explore our 8 suggestions for preventing bias and creating inclusive services
  • Discuss concrete programming ideas and policies to ensure staff and constituents feel respected and safe
  • Learn how an inclusive environment can improve the health and happiness of both staff and constituents

Asking Demographic Questions About Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

  • Learn practical tips from experts about how to ask questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity
  • Understand why these questions are important for all service organizations
  • Learn the nuances of asking these questions to older adults
  • Learn how to respectfully respond to questions and concerns that arise in these conversations

Caregiving in the LGBTQ+ Community

  • Explain the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.
  • Understand some of the needs of LGBTQ+ Older Adults and their care networks.
  • Understand the unique issues experienced by LGBTQ+ caregivers.
  • Connect to local and national resources.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Older Adults Through In-Home Care

  • Explain the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.
  • Understand why LGBTQ+ older adults may hide their identity.
  • Incorporate LGBTQ+ concerns into person-directed care.
  • Connect to local and national resources.

Preventing and Responding to Bullying Between Older Adults

  • Learn what is bullying.
  • Learn the different types of bullying behavior.
  • Learn the reasons for bullying.
  • Learn how to address the underlying cause of the bullying.

HIV and Aging: Confronting Myths, Reducing Stigma, and Aging Successfully

  • Learn the facts about HIV and AIDS.
  • Discuss the specific concerns of older adults with HIV as well as long-term survivors.
  • Identify common myths and misinformation about HIV.
  • Discuss suggestions for creating more inclusive services.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

  • Explore the specific needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults experiencing dementia.
  • Learn information that providers can use to make sure your services are welcoming to LGBTQ+ people with dementia.
  • Understand how to support caregivers who identify as LGBTQ+.
  • Look at some ways that they can help advocate for LGBTQ+ people with dementia

Training for Executives, Administrators, and Leadership:

These trainings will help executives, administrators and leadership understand the cultures, needs, and concerns of the LGBTQ+ older adults, and become more engaged with the experiences of LGBTQ+ staff members.

Leadership Training Options:

Four-Hour In-Person Training

SAGECare’s interactive, intense four-hour in-person training, provided by one our expert trainers, will deliver impactful information on the culture, needs, and concerns of LGBTQ+ older adults. Help the management team understand why LGBTQ+ older adults are less likely to access health and social services, and provide best practices and procedures for helping LGBTQ+ older adults to feel more included in aging network organizations. Plus, your SAGECare expert trainer, will connect you to important resources that will help you with any changes you decide to implement.

Virtual Training

SAGECare’s dynamic and informative virtual training will orient you to the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults in order to provide the best services possible to this population. The course takes place in two parts – the first is an interactive self-paced online course that takes approximately 75-90 minutes to complete. The course covers key terms and language, best practices and real-life scenarios, and the experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults, placing them in a historical context that will allow you to understand more about your clients.

After completing the online content, your team will join a SAGECare trainer for a 90-minute live-webinar, allowing you and your team members to activate your learning by exploring best practices that you can implement in your day-to-day work. Your SAGECare expert trainer will also connect you to important resources that will help you with any changes you decide to implement.

* When your organization has fewer than 8 executives, administrators and leadership, the management training requirement can be fulfilled by only completing the 75-90 minute online self-study training. For more information, please contact us.

* Executive, administrator and leadership training is to be completed every three years.

Contact Us

SAGE is committed to making our materials accessible to all individuals and maintaining open dialogue through the accommodation process. Reasonable accommodations for accessibility can be made upon request, please email (sagecare@sageusa.org) with your request. We request at least two weeks’ notice to assure that the accommodation meets your needs.