LGBT Senior Services in San Francisco
San Francisco has been one of the country’s foremost LGBT destinations for decades, and it’s now at the forefront of services and housing for LGBT seniors. Whether you’re looking for home care, assisted living, or a retirement community, the San Francisco area has lots of LGBT-friendly senior living options.
A clearinghouse for LGBT senior services
If you’re 60 or older and need help navigating the area’s senior care options, Openhouse is a great resource. The San Francisco non-profit connects gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender elders with the services. Besides referrals to other local agencies and senior centers, Openhouse runs its own programs for seniors. Among them are:
- the Friendly Visitor program, which pairs screened and trained volunteers with LGBT seniors for twice-monthly social visits.
- the Phone-A-Friend program that matches approved volunteers with seniors for weekly wellbeing calls and social chats.
- the Caregiver Self-Care support group for LGBT seniors who are themselves providing senior care to loved ones.
- facilitated grief support groups.
A range of assisted living options for LGBT seniors
Openhouse created a list for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform of Bay Area assisted living communities that are “affirmative and cognizant” of LGBT patients and their unique needs. Among them are SeniorAdvisor.com 2015 Best of Senior Living award-winner Alma Via of San Francisco near Lake Merced and the Vintage Golden Gate community on 19th Avenue.
Alma Via earned high marks from reviewers for staff communication and resident activities. The Lutheran-affiliated community welcomes pets, provides transportation, and offers both assisted living and specialized memory care. Vintage Golden Gate offers a continuum of care from independent living to dementia care, along with short-term stays for recuperation and respite care.
The Jewish Home of San Francisco is also on Openhouse’s LGBT-friendly list. The nine-acre campus is home to long-term nursing facilities, short-term and rehab care, and an acute geriatric psychiatric hospital that provides one-on-one medical attention and group therapy options. Long- and short-term care residents can participate alongside City College students in the Jewish Home’s acclaimed onsite studio art program. The community also hosts an annual season-long Summer Arts Festival that’s a mix of cultural outings, film screenings, and live performances.
Luxury LGBT retirement in Sonoma County
For seniors who want to age like fine wine, Fountaingrove Lodge is worth a look. The upscale wine-country community is the first in the US to focus on independent living and continuum care for LGBT seniors and friends. With chef-prepared meals, award-winning housing design, and amenities that include an onsite wine cave and a pet park, Fountaingrove appeals to the active crowd. It also offers short- and long-term home health care and individualized concierge medical services. The Sonoma County campus is convenient to local vineyards, golf courses, clubs, and shopping.
San Francisco and its surrounding communities have earned their reputation as one of the country’s most LGBT-friendly regions. Whether you’ve lived in the Bay Area for years or are making a move, you’ll find a wealth of resources to help you spend your retirement years in a respectful, supportive, and fun community.
Learn more about San Francisco Senior Living here:
San Francisco Alzheimer’s Care
Best of San Francisco Senior Living
How Much Does San Francisco Assisted Living Cost?
How Much Do San Francisco Nursing Homes Cost?
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