Devan Nambiar

Rainbow Health Ontario, Canada



Biography

Devan Nambiar has been providing LGBTI2S and HIV training,
education and lectures for over 20 years. He is a Guest Lecturer
on 2SLGBTI2S+ cultural and clinical competencies for MDs,
NPs, RNs, RSW and psychologists. He was a Co-investigator
of the National Trans Needs Assessment Project, CAS in 2015
and Co-Principal Investigator of Improving the Capacity of the
HIV Sector to respond to the Ethno-Racial MSM.OHTN in 2008.
At CATIE, he has co-authored four national publications. In
1998-2002, he has initiated an antiretroviral recycling program
at Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine, Chennai, India.
He was the Recipient of the Canadian AIDS Society Leadership
Award in 2006.

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and two-spirit
seniors (LGBTI2S) have experienced high levels of
discrimination and homo/bi/trans-phobia. LGBTI2S
seniors grew up in an era when it was a criminal offense
to be LGBTI2S. LGBTI2S was diagnosed as a mental
illness until 1973 in DSM III. The years of criminalization,
imprisonment, harassment, fired from jobs, internalized
shame, assault, medical assessment of their sexual lives
have created a huge burden on their mental, emotion,
sexual, spiritual and physical health. Due to societal and
institutional homophobia many LGBTI2S seniors have not
accessed primary health care and afraid to disclose their
sexual orientation or gender identity. This has resulted
in chronic health conditions for them and they continue
to remain an invisible aging population. HIV positive and
transgender seniors have higher rates of health disparities
and are at risk of experiencing greater stigma. Health care
and social service providers are a crucial link to provide
culturally sensitive and clinical services to aging LGBTI2S
seniors. This presentation will explore the practical steps
to engage in best practices in homecare, HRT, geriatric
and palliative care. The interactive case studies will probe
and stimulate discussions on how to work with LGBTI2S
seniors, diffusing fear, shame, stigma experienced by
them. The session uses a blended learning style utilizing
didactic, research, videos and case scenarios to build
knowledge and practical tools in becoming confident to
provide optimal care to LGBTI2S seniors.