Reports

Dignity Seniors Society, March 2023 | Read the Report

Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is dedicated to affecting systemic change that creates culturally appropriate services for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors across British Columbia.

In 2022 DSS sponsored a needs assessment to document current needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors in British Columbia. Individuals who were 55 years or older, lived in British Columbia, and identified as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities were invited to participate in interviews or an online survey.

A total of 51 individuals participated in one-on-one interviews, and 115 individuals completed an online survey. Interviews identified 3 prominent clusters of concern:

• health and health care;

  loss of mobility and independence compromising the ability to age in place; and

  loneliness, social isolation, and lack of community.

Three sub-themes consisted of:

• access to culturally competent and safe long-term care;

• access to safe and affordable housing; and

• concern about long-term financial resources.

Survey responses reflected a need for trained, affordable, respectful home support services to age in place and nursing homes, care homes, assisted living facilities and housing communities dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors and perhaps their allies. The survey responses also emphasized the need for access to health care, especially 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive health care and the need for social connections and a community network.

The Board of Directors of Dignity Seniors Society generated 25 recommendations in the areas of governmental responsibility, training and education, social inclusion, and long-term care/housing based upon the findings of this needs assessment.

Citation

• heinz, m., & Beringer, R. (2023-Mar-15) "Aging with Dignity: 2SLGBTQI+ Seniors in British Columbia." Research report prepared for Dignity Seniors Society, Vancouver, B.C.

Additional reading

• Q&A with matthew heinz on the Aging with Dignity needs assessment. Egale Canada, August 2023.

Egale Canada, August 2023 | Read the Report

What does "aging and living well" look like for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) older adults in Canada? What could it look like? And what social changes are needed to better enable LGBTQI older adults to live and age well, on their terms? ...

The purpose of this national interview-based study was to expand and deepen our understanding of how LGBTQI older adults themselves conceptualize "wellbeing", and what is needed for our communities to live well into old age. ...

This report provides a high-level summary of the research findings and recommendations. It has 3 main parts.

1. Methodology & Orientations describes the research approach and process.

2. Findings discusses 5 overarching themes:

   • Employment;

   • Housing;

   • Social connection and disconnection;

   • Healthcare access; and

   • Death and end-of-life wellbeing.

3. In the final part, we provide summary Conclusions and Next Steps. ...

Report

• Aging and Living Well Among LGBTQI Older Adults in Canada: Findings from a National Study. Egale Canada, August 2023.

Dignity Seniors Society, May 2025 | Read the Report

Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is dedicated to affecting systemic change that creates culturally appropriate services for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors across British Columbia.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Program Overview

The "We Are Familee" pilot program, led by Dignity Seniors Society BC, addressed the unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors through a volunteer companionship initiative. The seven-month pilot, conducted in collaboration with Haro Park Centre in Vancouver's West End, matched queer volunteers with queer seniors to provide culturally appropriate support and reduce isolation.

Key Results

• Participant Outcomes: 83% of participants reported improved mental health, 66% felt more independent and less lonely, 50% experienced physical health improvements, and 100% felt more positive after volunteer visits.

• Volunteer Benefits: 100% reported increased connection to the queer community, all volunteers experienced a greater sense of purpose, and significant personal growth through learning about queer aging experiences.

• Community Impact: 159 visits completed with 333 hours of volunteer one-to-one time, enhanced intergenerational connections through storytelling and cultural knowledge sharing, and increased 2SLGBTQIA+ awareness within the care facility.

Critical Findings

The evaluation revealed eight key findings, with the most significant being that queer-to-queer matches created safe spaces for participants to share personal histories and feel genuinely understood. The program successfully reduced isolation while fostering community connections, though it highlighted needs for better volunteer training on emotional boundaries and clearer guidance for facilitating outings.

Next Steps

Building on pilot success, Dignity Seniors Society plans to expand to sites in the Lower Mainland by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of 25 sites across BC. Key developments include comprehensive queer-specific volunteer training programs, improved matching tools and resource directories, stronger program infrastructure and policies, and scaling the "Rainbow Circles" model within existing aging-in-place services.

Impact Potential

The We Are Familee program represents a replicable model for addressing systemic gaps in culturally appropriate care for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors. With proper scaling and structured implementation, it has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for Two-Spirit, queer and Trans seniors across British Columbia while strengthening intergenerational community bonds.

Citation

• Shoup, T. et al. (May 2025) "Dignity Seniors Society BC: We Are Familee." Research report prepared for Dignity Seniors Society, Vancouver, B.C.

Threads of Us:  Volunteerism, Care and Kinship in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Report (pdf), Volunteer/Bénévoles Canada, 2025

Contents:

• Introduction

• Archiving Queer Histories: Volunteer Contributions to Preserving 2SLGBTQIA+ Narratives and Memories

• Ecosystems of Care: How Volunteers Sustain Trans Health and Legal Advocacy

• Volunteering as Kinship: Chosen Families in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Solidarity in Action: Mutual Aid, Redistribution and Care in 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

• Conclusion

Excerpt [p. 28]: ... For queer elders, especially those who have outlived partners and been cut off from biological family, these networks can be a lifeline. In Vancouver, Dignity Seniors Society’s volunteer-run We Are Familee program helps 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors age in place.

In Toronto, intergenerational volunteers with the Senior Pride Network [now: Senior Pride Network Canada / Réseau de la Fierté des personnes aînées du Canada (SPNC/RFAC)] offer everything from advocacy to end-of-life planning support in ways that honour chosen family as real and vital.

Whether it’s accompanying someone to an appointment or just spending time together, these efforts help preserve dignity, community memory, and mental health. These networks don’t just provide companionship, they reduce isolation, preserve community memory, and contribute to better mental health outcomes for queer seniors. ...

News from sagah! Our report on the state of 2S/TNB healthcare in 'BC' is finally here.

Reaching for Our Bodies is the outcome of over a year of collaborative study, consultation, and review, drawing from a breadth of medical and interdisciplinary literature and receiving support in coalition from multiple leading 2S/LGBTQIA+, feminist, and allied organizations in BC and beyond.

This report makes over 50 actionable recommendations to the Ministry of Health, some of which extend to interworking ministries, the province, and the federal government. Meeting with a friendly MLA? Take it with you to share with them what needs to be done.

Read and learn how policy makers in B.C. can make needed improvements to the healthcare and related supports available to 2S/TNB people, who deserve health equity and the support to live in safety. | pdf