All Five NYC Health + Hospitals Post-Acute Care Facilities Recognized as LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality Leaders by The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE
The five long-term care facilities are among the 11% of participating nursing homes across the nation to earn the Leader designation in the Long-Term Care Equality Index, the nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in long-term care communities.
May 19, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced all five of its post-acute care facilities were recognized as LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality Leaders in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE’s 2025 Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI). The five facilities are among the 11% of participating nursing homes across the nation to earn the Leader designation in the Long-Term Care Equality Index, the nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in long-term care communities. This year, 274 senior housing communities across 33 states participated in the assessment. The Long-Term Care Equality Index is the only national benchmarking tool focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion in residential long-term care and senior housing communities. With free resources, technical assistance, and a biennial survey, the Index helps communities implement, strengthen, and innovate their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts.
“NYC Health + Hospitals has a long-standing history of providing culturally sensitive and inclusive care to LGBTQ+ patients, and our post-acute care facilities are proud to be recognized as equality leaders in long-term care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President for Post-Acute Care Khoi Luong, DO, MBA. “We remain committed to providing ongoing training and education for staff to better understand the needs of our LGBTQ+ patients and residents across our skilled nursing facilities.”
“We are honored to receive this distinguished award in recognition of our commitment to equitable and compassionate care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Ivelesse Mendez-Justiniano, Ph.D. “This achievement reflects our dedication to ensuring care for all and inspires us to continue advancing inclusive, patient-centered health care.”
The Long-Term Care Equality Index measures the following policy and practice areas as benchmarks of LGBTQ+ inclusion in senior housing settings:
- Non-Discrimination and Staff Training
- Ensuring legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents, visitors, and staff along with staff training is a critical step in laying down the foundation for inclusivity.
- Resident Services & Support
- This section of the LEI asks about policies and practices that demonstrate progress toward LGBTQ+ resident care and support.
- Employee Benefits & Policies
- LGBTQ+ employees, like LGBTQ+ residents, should receive equal treatment and access to health-related benefits and policies.
- Resident & Community Engagement
- This section of the LEI asks about best practices a community takes to publicly demonstrate its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
According to a recent study by AARP, 78 percent of LGBTQ+ adults 45-plus are concerned about having enough support as they age. With a greater likelihood of being single and without children, LGBTQ+ older people can benefit from the support of paid aging services and supports like residential long-term care and senior housing. Inclusive housing providers are pivotal partners in helping the LGBTQ+ community age with dignity and respect.
“All 274 participating communities deserve our deepest gratitude for their leadership,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Their work sends a powerful message: LGBTQ+ people deserve to age with dignity, safety, and pride in communities that see and understand who they are. The best care is found in communities that embrace our full humanity and lived experiences, from residents to staff and visitors.”
“Right now, it’s paramount that we step up and ensure our elders can age on their own terms. Our community is facing increasing uncertainty when it comes to our future — including a menacing federal government, cuts to crucial public services, and a tumultuous economy threatening older adults on fixed incomes. All older Americans, including those who are LGBTQ+, deserve to age safely and securely, and one of the best ways to do so is to find welcoming and inclusive places to live and receive care,” said Michael Adams, CEO of SAGE. “Today, there are 274 long-term care communities nationwide — across 33 states — who are demonstrating their commitment to LGBTQ+ elders with their pledge to the Long-Term Care Equality Index. The LEI is a trusted tool that helps ensure that LGBTQ+ elders can find respectful and inclusive care. This index is designed to support all LGBTQ+ older people with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ elders of color, transgender older people, and LGBTQ+ elders living in rural areas who often face even greater challenges. SAGE is proud to work with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on this important initiative so that LGBTQ+ elders can age with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
NYC Health + Hospitals has long been a leader in caring for LGBTQ+ patients and residents and continues its commitment to providing staff with specialized trainings to ensure LGBTQ+ patients and residents who seek care at any location across the health system receive responsive health care in a welcoming environment.
For more information on the LEI and to view the 2025 report, click here.
To learn more about resources available for our LGBTQ+ patients, click here.
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CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, 646-694-4910
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care
NYC Health + Hospitals Post-Acute Care is comprised of five skilled nursing facilities (SNF), a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) and adult day healthcare program. There is a total of 2,099 inpatient beds in the SNFs and LTACH. Carter, Coler, Gouverneur, McKinney, and Seaview have all consistently earned Four- & Five-Star Ratings awarded by CMS. In addition, Carter, Gouverneur, McKinney and Seaview have been recognized by US News & World Report as one of the Best Nursing Homes in 2025 for long-term care and short-term rehabilitation; Newsweek ranks Carter, Coler, Gouverneur, and Sea View in the Top 10 of Best Nursing Homes 2025 in New York State; McKinney ranked in the Top 20. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/postacutecare.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
