Today, on International Human Rights Day, we share a story and a message from a resident, which embodies this year's slogan : All Human, All Equal"
"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. [...] Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
My name is Bruce. I am a gay, non-binary person that identifies with the pronouns they/them and I don’t want to be addressed as Sir or Mister. More importantly, I want to be acknowledged and treated with respect as an individual who has lived experiences and contributed to society.
I used to volunteer and contribute to the community in many different ways. Although I'm not rich, I knew that I was fortunate to have enough and wanted to help those who had less than me. Sometime during the pandemic, my health started to change. Without being consulted, I was told by the hospital that I wasn’t safe to live alone and that I couldn’t return to my apartment. I was very resistant to the idea of moving to a LTC home; I thought this was the end. For me, it was equivalent to jail, and I worried about having my independence taken away. After all these years of living my life on my own terms, I was afraid that I would be isolated from my community and not be accepted for who I am.
All people age, and that includes folks in the LGBTQ community. Are care staff in LTC homes ready to accept us and care for us when we are perceived to be different than what is considered to be ‘normal’ in a resident population? I say this, because I know of people in the LGBTQ community who have gone back into the closet as they don’t feel accepted or safe to be who they really are. It’s sad, that they feel this way, especially since this will likely be last place where they will live.
I came out as a teenager, which wasn't easy being raised in a Jewish family. Some of my family members did not accept or acknowledge me. I came out as non-binary later
in life which was harder for me emotionally, but I am determined to be who I am, without hiding and trying to be someone that I’m not. When I was asked to perform at Little Mountain Place, I hesitated before making the decision. I received lots of support and encouragement and decided to go ahead. My friend Chantelle came over and helped me with the make up and dressing up. I performed, ‘This Is My Life’ by Shirley Bassey. This song is very meaningful to me, as it was a favorite of my late partner, Gregg. I thought it very appropriate to share with my new community.
I think I am surprised at how I have settled into life in long term care after 5 months. There are still days when I wish I didn’t live in a facility; I do not feel accepted by some where I sometimes hear whispering behind my back. However, I also have days where I enjoy the activities and interacting with certain individuals. As I have gotten to know this location, I was relieved from wearing a Wander Guard and with assistance learned how to traverse back to familiar areas and shops where I used to frequently visit. More recently, to my surprise, I experienced a sense of relief in returning to this community after an outing at my old neighborhood.
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I want people who work in LTC settings to know that the resident population they are serving is changing and will continue to evolve and be more diverse. I encourage staff members who work in long term care to reflect on whether they are open and accepting to those who are perceived as different from themselves or their expectations. To be welcoming to new residents, please try to reserve judgement and get to know the individual; try to understand who they are and what is important to them. Quite simply, treat everyone the way you would appreciate being treated….
~ Bruce, Resident, Little Mountain Place
having trouble registering for the COVID-19 booster shot, the Long-Term Care & Assisted Living Professional Practice team has created a one-minute video to help walk people through the registration process. View the video and scan the QR code to get started: 
Arbutus Gallery at the Surrey Campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, this will be a scalable travelling exhibit with a website, a podcast, and a set of educational materials. Future exhibits in public libraries and community centers are under negotiation.
