Right at Home VP Joins BayPath Elder Services LGBT Advisory Team

Westborough, Mass. - (November 27, 2017) – Right at Home of Eastern Worcester County (RAHEWC), a private-duty, in-home care and assistance company, today announced that Shelby Marshall, Senior Vice President, has been named to BayPath Elder Services’ LGBT Initiative Advisory Team, which was established last year to make LGBT education, resources and supports accessible to LGBT older adults in MetroWest.

The Advisory Team’s objectives to address the needs of the underserved elder LGBT population include training staff, local vendors and community service providers in LGBT cultural competency; to develop a resource guide of services available to LGBT seniors; and to collaborate with area senior centers, LGBT outreach workers and staff to promote informational sessions and activities.

According to the “Improving the lives of LGBT Older Adults” report, written by LGBT Movement Advancement Project and Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders, some of the key challenges that face LGBT elders include “the effects of social stigma and prejudice, past and present… reliance on informal ‘families of choice’ for social connections, care and support… and unequal treatment under laws, programs and services.” Due to these challenges, the report says, “unequal treatment of LGBT elders can make it harder for them to achieve ‘successful aging.”

“I am so proud to be part of this initiative. We know that many LGBT elders aren’t even ‘out’ to their primary physicians, which can mean they don’t receive appropriate care. It is our hope that the tools and resources that evolve from our work will further help communities understand the unique needs; address the disparities; and foster a better understanding of LGBT elders and their unique aging experiences,” Marshall said.

Marshall serves as President of the Rotary Club of Westborough; Co-Chair of Westborough’s Come2Be Dementia Friendly Initiative; and Trustee of the Westborough Public Library. She is also a Member of the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Treasurer of Worcester Area Social Workers (WAGS); an active member of her daughter’s school’s Parent Group; a Charlotte Spinney Scholar Community Mentor; and a Northborough Community Reading Day participant.

Marshall and her partner, Gail, live in Westborough with their daughter, Graysen.

Right at Home is a private-duty, in-home care and assistance company that provides comprehensive care planning, supervision and clinical care management to older adults. Services range from companionship and personal care to skilled care and include hands-on care that promotes independence & wellness; personal care & physical assistance; hospice supportive care; specialty care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, MS, COPD & other complex conditions; medication reconciliation & management; short-term transitional care; 24-hour care; and respite care.

To find out more about RAHEWC’s commitment to excellence, visit www.rahewc.com, email rightcare@rahewc.com or call 508-599-1122.

About Right at Home of Eastern Worcester County: The Westborough office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, LLC, serving the communities of Ashland, Auburn, Bellingham, Blackstone, Berlin, Boylston, Douglas, Dudley, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, North Grafton, North Oxford, Northbridge, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Southborough, South Grafton, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westborough, Whitinsville and Worcester. For more information, visit Right at Home of Westborough at www.rahewc.com, call 508-599-1122 or email rightcare@rahewc.com.