Spring 2020
Section 7078 of OA505
Discussion Group -- : Jan 16 - May 21 2020
Class focuses on aging gayfully. Note: There is no fee for the class, but the SR City Dept of Parks and Recreation charges a facilities use fee of $2.50 for Senior Center membes and $3.00 for non members per class.
Fall 2019
Section 0156 of OA505
Discussion Group -- : Aug 22 - Dec 19 2019
Class focuses on aging gayfully. Note: There is no class fee, but the SR City Dept of Parks and Recreation charges a facilities use fee of $2.50 for Senior Center members and $3.00 for non members per class.
Summer 2019
Section 8946 of OA505
Discussion Group -- : Jun 20 - Aug 08 2019
Class focuses on living gayfully.
BA San Francisco State University
MA New College of California
WYSE International Elder Workshops, Italy (2009-2012)
Eldership Academy Workshop, Italy 2017
Sage-ing International Conferences and Workshops
Gary "Buz" Hermes has worked in human services his entire career, including designing and implementing programs for persons with disabilities and seniors. For the last 35 years he has also served as an advocate on behalf of the LGBT community.. Most recently he has focused on combining his passionate research into conscious aging strategies with his years of experience working with seniors to serve his aging LGBT peers.
Work and Consulting Experience:
Currently:
LGBT Aging Consultant
LGBT Seniors Discussion Group Facilitator: The Spahr Center, Marin County
LGBT Seniors Discussion Group Co-Facilitator: Sonoma Valley LGBT Seniors
Previously:
LGBT Aging Consultant: Sonoma County Adult and Aging Services
Sernior Services Coordinator: Mercy Housing, Marin County; PEP Housing, Sonoma County
Seniors Program Staff Member: Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns, Marin
Program Coordinator: Kairos Support for Caregivers, San Francisco
Program Manager: Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Marin Housing Authority
Professional Areas of Interest:
LGBT Aging Issues
Conscious Aging Strategies
Presentations and Publications:
Presenter on innovative senior programs at conferences of National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, American Society on Aging, California Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, National Association of Service Coordinators.
We lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) elders have another layer of concerns on top of the usual challenges of aging. Those concerns might include low self-esteem after many years of having to living in a hostile culture, fear of continuing judgment and discrimination by healthcare, homecare and aging service providers, isolation and lonliness due to loss of peers and lack of family support, and lack of financial security due to having worked in a low-paying career. The "Aging Gayfully!" class addresses those concerns in addition to the usual aging challenges through weekly presentations of a relevant topic or resource followed by a facilitated group discussion. In addition, students frequently form supportive connections with each other that extend outside of the class.
LGBT Aging: