Armbrook Village Shows Commitment to Inclusivity with Platinum LGBTQ Accreditation

WESTFIELD — Armbrook Village recently reached the Platinum accreditation level from SAGECare, demonstrating the senior community’s dedication to providing a network of support and acceptance for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) residents.

SAGECare is an organization that provides LGBTQ cultural-comptenecy training and consulting to service providers. Achieving this level of accreditation highlights that over 80% of Armbrook’s staff have been trained to better navigate and appreciate the variety of issues facing the aging LGBTQ population.

SAGECare is a division of SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ older adults. It is estimated that there are currently around 3 million LGBTQ older adults in the U.S., and that number is expected to grow to around 7 million by 2030, according to SAGECare. The accreditation process involved an in-person training for Armbrook Village’s team of managers, paired with a training module for frontline associates.

The program educated associates on the unique challenges that older LGBTQ adults confront today and the best practices for creating an environment of inclusivity. This achievement marks a milestone in Armbrook’s ongoing efforts to build a network of support and acceptance for LGBTQ individuals. This culture of acceptance empowers associates, residents, and their families to fully celebrate who they are.

“All of us here at Armbrook were extremely excited to develop an even more understanding and inclusive community,” said Beth Cardillo, executive director of Armbrook Village. “It’s important for us to not only listen, but to empower each individual to share their experiences and feel comfortable doing so.”