WASHINGTON, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hospice Foundation of America will present a live, online webinar focusing on "Supporting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community through Illness, Death and Grief" on Wednesday April 20 from 1pm - 2pm ET. This live webinar features Kimberly Acquaviva, PhD, MSW, of George Washington University, who will discuss the challenges faced by this community and how organizations can better serve older LGBT adults and their loved ones. Kenneth Doka, PhD, MDiv, will discuss the psychosocial issues that may occur as LGBT individuals and their loved ones face illness and death.

"Aging and death don't discriminate. Whether someone is heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, everyone grows older," states Dr. Doka. "Yet during their lifetime, LGBT older adults have faced legal and societal barriers, and many older LGBT individuals may feel reluctant to seek and accept health care and social services."  There are between 2 and 7 million older LGBT adults in the US. This webinar will look at some of the challenges that this community faces in accessing inclusive, compassionate health care at the end of life. The presenters will discuss how hospice providers and other organizations can examine their programs and policies to ensure inclusion of LGBT information and needs, and will also discuss how grief is often disenfranschised in this community.

Organizations can register for $75, which allows access to both the live webcast and an archived online program for one year past the live webinar, with free unlimited CEs (1 hour) available for a wide range of professions.  Individuals may register for the live webinar for $25; 1 hour of CE credit is included for the registered individual.  To learn more about this exciting educational offering, contact HFA at 800-854-3402 or go online. Hospice Foundation of America (www.hospicefoundation.org ) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help those who cope personally or professionally with terminal illness, death, and the process of grief and bereavement.

Contact: Lisa Veglahn, 800-854-3402
lveglahn@hospicefoundation.org

SOURCE Hospice Foundation of America