Critical Conversations in LBGTQ & End of Life Care
Gender and sexual minorities may have specific experiences, needs and preferences that health and social care professionals need to be aware of to provide the best possible care at the end of life. Current discussions of dying and death in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community need to go farther than just the disease, and describe the processes and issues faced differently by LGBTQ patients and caregivers. Through a review of existing literature, we discuss several key issues and processes at the end of life, including morbidity, mortality, decision making, and issues of mental health and coping, overlaid with concerns about stigma, discrimination and prejudice (actual and potential), and legal issues that can influence the care accessed and how it is provided.
Session Objectives:
*Formulate health literacy by understanding the physical, psychological and social aspects of caring for all patients
*Demonstrate respectful communication and care for all patients
*Employ skills that foster moving past assumptions and bias to provide whole-person care for all patients and their caregivers
Home care and hospice professionals are called to serve many distinct groups within our community at very vulnerable times in their journey. In this 90-minute session we will speak to the unique needs and circumstances of gender and sexual minorities in end of life care. Communication will begin by defining terms and delving into a short history of gender identity across cultures. We will focus on fostering respect in medical care, discuss commonalities and differences among age groups and explore some of the challenges in communicating needs to our direct care team members. Dr Thomson will also offer insight regarding certain care needs unique to the transgender patient group; including medications that need to continue, and will highlight health insurance issues including coverage & denials attached to gender.
Presenters: Dr. Ruth M. Thomson, DO, MBA, HMDC, FACOI, FAAHPM is a provider in the section of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and serves as the Medical Director of the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative & Hospice Care. She previously served 16- years at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton in the roles of Hospice Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer. Ruth is triple board certified, holding certification in Internal medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice Medical Board director. She holds an appointment as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and served on the AAHPM Board of Directors. Ruth is also the mother of a transgender son, an ally to the LGBTQ community and is passionate about advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion.
New Hampshire State Representative Gerri Cannon worked for Digital, Compaq and Hewlett Packard for over 30 years in a wide variety of technical hardware, software and marketing roles, but was let go shortly after announcing her plans to transition. Gerri has been active in civil rights issues, including Marriage Equality and a transgender Equality Bill. In 2018 she was elected to the New Hampshire state House of Representatives from Strafford County, District 18, covering the City of Somersworth and the Town of Rollinsford. She is proud to be a transgender American!
In Partnership with the Home Care, Hospice, and Palliative Care Alliance of New Hampshire
Continuing Education: RNs and LPNs must participate in the entire presentation for contact hours to be awarded. To apply for nursing contact hours, please mail an evaluation form and a completed sign-in sheet, listing the individuals at your facility that participated and noting those requesting contact hours. Individuals requesting contact hours will receive a certificate of contact hours earned. Please make sure that you enter the Contact Person’s name in the Registration Form. All correspondence and site registration information will be sent to this person. No commercial support has been provided for this program.
See Program for Details