Dignity Seniors Society

WHO WE ARE

DSS is a Society, regulated through the BC Societies Act. Its mission led, working Board of Directors consists of 10 2SLGTBQIA+ community members. In 2023 DSS added 2 community consultants and then 2 contracted employees to the organization. Towards the end of 2023, DSS began bringing skilled volunteers aboard to join their focused committees (Volunteer, Communications, Finance and Sustainability), working groups (Community Building, End of Life Planning, Health and Housing) and to assist with administrative duties.

Dignity Seniors Society (DSS) is dedicated to affecting systemic change that creates culturally appropriate services for 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors that support and engage them in ways that are meaningful to them.

WHAT WE DO

DSS Focuses on 2 Audiences- working for 2SLGTBQIA+ Seniors, and with Seniors’ Service Providers who serve or potentially serve 2SLGTBQ1A+ Seniors.

DSS has four areas of focus for our work – Health, Housing, Community Building and End-of-life Planning/Finances. We: *Advocate for the creation of and/or improvements to culturally appropriate services for 2SLGTBQIA+Seniors.

*Collaborate with seniors’ service providers to inform and support their 2SLGTBQIA+ services, and 2SLGTBQIA+ service providers to inform and support their seniors’ services.

*Provide training for service providers and students on working with 2SLGTBQIA+ seniors.

*Provide presentations (public, during conferences, or tailored to specific individual organizations) on the needs and challenges faced by aging 2SLGTBQIA+ people and how to adapt services to accommodate them.

*Provide information to 2SLGTBQIA+ seniors on available services and resources, and where appropriate, support individuals to self-advocate for their needs.

*Partner on, promote and support research on the needs of 2SLGTBQIA+ seniors and best practices on how to meet them.