I thought of a few other things when selecting a safe and lgbtqi friendly location to live.
Religion/Spirituality - if you have a specific religious preference, ensure that this part of your life will be honored and respected in a way that feels safe for you. For example, some people may lean towards Buddhism, but the residence that they are inquiring about may be Catholic based - ask questions to ensure that this is not a fundamental part of the care that you will be receiving. If you have specific requests for your end of life care, ensure that this will be process that will be honored by the staff.
Some people may not have a specific religious or spiritual preference. However, some people find as they age that it can be useful to explore this aspect of their lives, as it can offer a sense or grounding, compassion and hope.
Pets - if you have a pet and wish to take it with you (pets can be a wonderful source of support for anyone, particularly when going through changes, including moving into a new environment), check to ensure that you will be able to bring your pet and the kinds of costs involved. If you have a dog, you may choose to ask if there will be someone available to walk the dog. Also, I encourage you to inquire about the availability of staff to feed the animals as well as take them to appointments, as well as the costs involved.
Support - if in need of assistance while staying in long term care, you may try contacting the following resources listed on the Solid Ground website. This includes a listing for people of color:
http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Disabilities/LongTerm/Pages/default.aspx
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