Mission

The William Way Elder Initiative is devoted to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults possess the rights and opportunities to lead dynamic, inventive, and interdependently enriching lives. To materialize this vision, the mission of the Elder Initiative is to champion and promote services and resources that are adept, culturally attuned, inclusive, and tailored to the specific needs of LGBT elders in the Delaware Valley and further afield.

The Elder Initiative is committed to constructing bridges between Aging and LGBT service and community organizations and their consumers through advocacy, dissemination, education, and referral.

History

The William Way Elder Initiative was established in 2022 when it merged with LGBT Elder Initiative.

The LGBT Elder Initiative was founded in October 2010 as a result of the LGBT Senior Summit.  A community needs survey was conducted preceding the summit.  That survey identified physical and emotional health services, housing, case management and social services, and social networking as the most pressing needs of LGBT elders in the Delaware Valley.

Based on the recommendations approved at the Summit, the LGBT Elder Initiative was formed, with a Working Group as its core.  Today the LGBTEI consists of consumers, representatives of the area agencies on aging, other aging service organizations, LGBT service and community organizations and representatives of local government agencies.