b'2SLGBTQI+difficult decision to conceal their identities and go back into the closet.Working group To address these needs, SSLTC collaborated closely with a working group of community members, long-term care staff, and allied service providers to develop Leading & Learning with Pride: A revitalized Tool Kit on Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Seniors. The Tool Kit is a freely-accessible, comprehensive resource for long-term care and seniors-service providers, featuring new resources, best practices and examples that build knowledge, skills and organizational capacity to supportThe 2SLGBTQI+ Tool Kit working group, featuring2SLGBTQI+ seniors. Importantly, it was also co-created withcommunity members, long-term care staff, and allied providers,the community.co-created the resource and continue to guide its implementation."2SLGBTQI+ seniors have long been excluded in long-termPictured left to right: Pink Angel, Shoshana Pellman,care settings, left out of key decisions about their care, andleZlie lee kam, Christine Chan, Margaret Rodrigues,rendered invisible by the very systems designed to supportTom Warner, Tanya Neumeyer, Joseph Friedman Burley.them," says Jennifer Dockery, General Manager of SSLTC. "That\'s why it was so critical that we engaged a working groupAs for Heather Hay, the Tool Kit suggests the promise of a of lived experience advisors, service providers, advocates andbrighter future for her community: "We are so excited to allies to redevelop, launch and implement this Tool Kit. Wesee long-term care homes and seniors services begin to needed to bring awareness to these needs, collaborate andimplement this Tool Kit so that we can continue to shine, amplify the voices of 2SLGBTQI+ seniors."no longer hiding in a closet." LTCTWith guidance from the working group, the Tool Kit wasFor questions on the Leading & Learning with Pride Tool designed with new content on terminology, current research,Kit, please contact seniors@toronto.ca.allyship, and a cycle of 10 recommendations to foster respectful, inclusive and affirming care environments.Joseph Friedman Burley is a management consultant at City of Toronto Seniors Services and Rick Gourlie, also a member of the Tool Kit working groupLong-Term Care and the lead on the 2SLGBTQI+ and a former Long-Term Care Administrator, believes theTool Kit. resource could transform the culture of long-term care: "When I worked in a long-term care home, there were very few practical tools that I and my staff team could implement to create a real culture of inclusivity. This Tool Kit uses a 2SLGBTQI+ lens to spark conversations and new processes that challenge status-quo care practices and foster nonjudgmental environments. I firmly believe it will enhance everyone\'s understanding of what it really means to provideCANADIAN OWNED the best care for all residents, while showing staff that beingSINCE 1961better allies can be easyyou just have to try."Canadas Leader in Institutional and Comprehensive campaignCommercial Laundry EquipmentAfter a successful release on June 23, 2022, SSLTC has undertaken a comprehensive Pride and Education campaign to advance training on the Tool Kit and promote 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion across the city\'s 10 long-term care homes and community programs. Components of the campaign include a mandatory video-learning module called Understanding Gender and Sexual Orientation, a series of interactive workshops delivered in partnership with The 519 and Senior Pride Network Toronto, and leading the 2022 Toronto Pride Parade\'s seniors\' contingent. Most recently, SSLTC released a promotional video for the Tool Kit in honour of International Day of Older Persons, featuring interviews with 2SLGBTQI+ seniors and long-term care residents. "There\'s no question that the road ahead is long and that the Tool Kit represents just the beginning of a much broader process of transformation," says Dockery, "but with ongoingCONTACT USsupport from our working group and community partners, weToll: 1-800-387-9503are taking an initial and important step towards truly inclusive long-term care homes and seniors services. I implore sectorsales@harcoco.comwww.harcoco.com partners across the province to follow suit."www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 29'