MBE for LGBT Alzheimer’s helpline volunteer
Roger Newman of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Lesbian and Gay Network has been awarded an MBE for charitable services.
The award, announced in the New Years Honours list, recognises the work that Roger and the ASLGN do in supporting the needs of people with dementia, and their carers, who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
The society’s trained volunteers provide a telephone support service as well as information, advice and information on best practice for carers.
“I feel that the award is a great honour for me personally, and I am so grateful to receive it, but it is also a recognition of the needs of older LGBTs and the work done generally on behalf of them, and is therefore worth celebrating,” Roger told PinkNews.co.uk
As a result of caring for his partner David, who had Alzheimer’s disease, Roger jointly founded the LGBT Carers Group of the Alzheimer’s Society.
Roger has also worked with the LGBT group within Age Concern England and with the LGBT forum organised by Kent Police.
Caring for a person with dementia can cause feelings of isolation, which can be exacerbated by people not understanding different lifestyles.
The ASLGN was founded in 2000 to meet the specific needs of older gay men and lesbian women and those caring for a relative, partner or friend with any type of dementia, including Aids-related dementia.
It is supported by the Alzheimer’s Society.