Elder Resources

Below are resources that may be helpful for LGBTQ+ folks over 65.

Local Community/Peer Groups

TC LGBTQ+ Community Google Calendar
See what’s happening in the Tri with this calendar full of local queer events!

PFLAG SAFE Socials (18+)
Our SAFE Socials are monthly supportive meetups for adult LGBTQIA2+ folks and their allies. We’ll supply an activity for everyone to enjoy while we discuss what’s been going on in your day-to-day. This is a space where we can come together, connect with others in our community, and make new friends.

The Uptown Rainbow Connection
The URC strives to develop Pride events and connections that educate, promote, and build safety for the LGBTQ+ Community. They run an 18+ support group every Monday 6:30-8pm in the Wear Love HQ space in the Uptown, 248A Williams Blvd, Richland, WA 99354.

National/State Resources

LGBTQ+ Seniors of the Inland Northwest
A member driven, supportive and affirming network for older LGBTQ+ people and their families that aims to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ seniors by helping seniors live meaningful lives with dignity and independence. We accomplish our mission daily by providing camaraderie, education, support and advocacy for our members. Contact Email: admin@LGBTQseniorsoftheinlandnorthwest.com

SAGE: Advocacy Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
We make aging better for LGBTQ+ people nationwide. How? We show up and speak out for the issues that matter to us. We teach. We answer your calls. We connect—generations, each other, allies. We win. And together, we celebrate. Learn more about our mission and core values. Contact Number: 212-741-2247

National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging
The country’s first and only technical assistance resource center focused on improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults, their families and caregivers.

LGBTQ+ Veterans
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs is here to serve you with the respect and dignity you deserve. We strive to create an environment where all are able to live their life authentically; feeling safe, supported, and empowered free from discriminatory policies and practices. Contact Email: robin.lang@dva.wa.gov

Health

LGBTQ+ Elder Health Care Guide
Growing older presents challenges for millions of Americans, but members of the LGBTQ+ community face many additional barriers to receiving health care. We created this guide to connect the elders of the LGBTQ+ community to the resources and information necessary to help them find the care that they need.

Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho (PPGWNI) has been helping people make responsible decisions about their sexual health for over 50 years. Dedicated to delivering the highest quality reproductive health care services since 1967, PPGWNI is also committed to providing responsible, age-appropriate sexuality education. Contact Email: communications@ppgwni.org

FOLX Health: Library
Your ultimate go-to resource to answer the questions you have about LGBTQ+ healthcare from FOLX clinicians, our team, and the wider community.

National HIV/AIDS Hotline 
Learn about HIV/AIDS, prevention and care, as well as find access to HIV services for people most at risk for or living with HIV.
U.S. – 1-800-342-2437
En Español – 1-800-344-7432
TDD – 1-800-243-7889

Washington HIV/AIDS Hotline
The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is Washington State’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). EIP provides services to help eligible persons with HIV get the medications and assistance with insurance premium payments they need to improve and maintain their health.
Toll Free – 1-877-376-9316

To Write Love On Her Arms
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Intro to LGBTQ+**

A Quick Guide to Sexual Orientation, Sex, & Gender Identity
A comic that illustrates concepts such as sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity. A great starting point to help you begin understanding and interacting with the LGBTQ+ community.

The Trevor Project: Understanding Sexual Orientation
A fantastic hub of articles that provide a fundamental understanding of various orientations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and asexual.

The Trevor Project: Understanding Gender Identity
Want to learn more about how humans express themselves through their gender? This is a great place to discover what it means to be transgender and/or nonbinary.

Trans & Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) Basics
A curated database of resources by and for transgender and gender non-conforming people. We use research and lived experiences to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about a myriad of topics related to queer folx and their loved-ones.

A Collection of LGBTQ+ Videos
A catch-all collection of LGBTQ+ educational and/or inclusive videos.

**For even more educational resources on LGBTQ+ issues, history, and advocacy, visit our Learning Center!

Know Your Rights

PFLAG BF’s Rights & Advocacy Page
Learn more about the law and what actions you can take if your rights have been violated. Discover how to become an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community at large.

Guides for Identity Document Changes
Here are several informational guides that can help you navigate making changes to your legal documents.

Crisis Intervention

Washington 2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in Washington State and you will reach a highly-trained information and referral specialist who will assess your needs and provide a list of referrals to available resources in your community. 2-1-1 is a free confidential community service and your one-stop connection to the local services you need, from utility assistance, food, housing, health, child care, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention and much more.
TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing and interpreter services are also available in 140+ languages.

Housing Resource Center
The Housing Resource Center, formerly know as CES Coordinated Entry System, efficiently routes households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to the most appropriate provider among the network of homeless providers as quickly as possible. Contact Number: 509-737-3946, TTY: dial 711

Benton Franklin Community Action Committee
This site has a wealth of information and resources available. BFCAC provides social services in Franklin and Benton Counties. Contact Number: 509-545-4042

Support Advocacy & Resource Center (SARC)
The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center’s mission is to provide crisis services, support, and advocacy to victims, non-offending family members, and others who are impacted by crime. We strive to create and maintain a community without violence through prevention-based education. Contact Number: 509-374-5391

Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties
DVSBF provides a wide array of services including 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter, information and referrals, legal advocacy and clinics, support groups, advocacy based counseling, and community education. Our mission is to create a healthy community free from all forms of domestic violence.
Contact Number: 509-735-1295
Local 24/7 Crisis Line: 509-582-9841
Toll-Free 24 Hour Hotline: 800-648-1277

Tri-Cities Food Bank
The Tri-Cities Food Bank provides emergency food to residents in need within Benton City, Kennewick, Finley, Richland, and West Richland. Contact Number: 509-582-0411

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tri-Cities
NAMI is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy. They also advocate for non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare, housing , education and employment for people with mental illness.
Contact Email: namitricities@gmail.com
Local 24/7 Crisis Line: 509-792-1747

Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention
Call or Text: 988 (online chat available)
En Español: 1-800-344-7432
TTY: dial 711 then 988.
People can also call 988 and press 3 to be connected to LGBTQI+ services.

LGBT National Talkline
General Line: 1-888-843-4564
Senior Line: 1-888-234-7243

Trans Lifeline
U.S. – 1-877-565-8860
Canada – 1-877-330-6366

Crisis Text Line
Text CONNECT to 741741. Standard text messaging rates apply. Available 24/7/365.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tri-Cities
Local 24/7 Crisis Line: (509) 792-1747

Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties
Local 24/7 Crisis Line: 509-582-9841
Toll-Free 24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-648-1277

U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline
Services in Spanish and English. Referral services in over 170 languages.
U.S. – 1-800-799-7233
TTY – 1-800-787-3224
Text START to 88788. Standard text messaging rates apply. Available 24/7/365.

Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
U.S. – 1-800-656-4673 (online chat available)
TTY – 1-800-810-7440