Caring With Pride: FCA’s Commitment to LGBTQ+ Caregivers
Caregiving is an act of love. And love, in all its forms, deserves recognition and support.
June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals and communities and to reflect on the progress still needed toward full equity and inclusion.
At Family Caregiver Alliance, we’re proud to stand alongside the many LGBTQ+ family members and friends who show up every day as caregivers and to make sure they know: we see you, and we’re here for you.
Who Are LGBTQ+ Caregivers?
LGBTQ+ caregivers are partners caring for a spouse with a chronic illness. They’re adult children supporting an aging parent. They’re chosen family: the friends, neighbors, and community members who step in when biological relatives are absent or unwilling. They are deeply devoted, and they often face challenges that other caregivers don’t.
LGBTQ+ caregivers can encounter discrimination in health care and care facility settings, legal vulnerabilities when they lack formal recognition as next-of-kin, and social isolation that compounds the already-heavy emotional weight of caregiving. For those caring for someone with dementia, the stakes can feel even higher.
How FCA Supports You
Family Caregiver Alliance offers resources specifically designed with LGBTQ+ caregivers in mind, from fact sheets on legal and financial planning to guidance on navigating health care systems that don’t always make space for chosen family. Our National Center on Caregiving advocates for policies that recognize the full diversity of who caregivers are and who they care for.
We also offer the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group for San Francisco Bay Area or California caregivers (in partnership with Openhouse) as well as an online support group called LGBTQ+ Community Support Caregiving for our Families and Friends. They’re places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender caregivers of adults with chronic health problems to discuss the unique issues of caring for their loved ones.
There are many organizations in the SF Bay Area and across the country that provide support and community to LGBTQ+ caregivers and older adults. They can be a great resource for services and programs so consider learning more and supporting them:
Whether you found your way to caregiving through biology or through love, FCA is your resource. This Pride Month — and every month — we’re committed to making sure every caregiver has the information, support, and respect they deserve.
Explore these LGBTQ+ caregiver resources at caregiver.org →