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Community building with aging and old lesbians
Nancy M Nystrom1, Teresa C Jones
1School of Social Work, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. nancy.nystrom@ssc.msu.edu
American Journal of Community Psychology
|July 18, 2003
Summary
The Elder Initiative successfully built a community for aging lesbians, fostering support networks and engagement. This model offers a valuable approach for enhancing the well-being of older LGBTQ+ individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Community Health
Background:
- Research on the needs of aging lesbians is limited.
- Community support is crucial for the well-being of older LGBTQ+ adults.
- Existing community-building models may not fully address the unique needs of this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the creation and impact of the Elder Initiative, a community-building program for aging and older lesbians.
- To provide support networks and foster community involvement for older lesbians.
- To explore the applicability of community-building models for aging LGBTQ+ populations.
Main Methods:
- The Kretzmann and McKnight model of community building was adopted.
- A community initiative was established in a major northwest city.
- Program development and membership growth were tracked over three years.
Main Results:
- The Elder Initiative grew to over 550 members within three years.
- Several successful community projects were undertaken.
- The initiative demonstrated a viable model for supporting aging lesbians.
Conclusions:
- Community-based initiatives are vital for the successful aging of lesbians.
- The Elder Initiative provides a framework for addressing the needs of older LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact and scalability of such programs.