June 20, 2025
Kendal at Oberlin has achieved the highest ranking for being a safe, inclusive and welcoming life plan community for LGBTQ+ individuals, visitors, and staff.
The Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI), a national benchmarking tool and roadmap for U.S. senior housing communities to support efforts of LGBTQ+ inclusion of residents, visitors, and staff, is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE.
Kendal is one of just 31 communities to achieve LEI’s top tier as “LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality Leader.” In all, 274 communities participated in the 2025 survey.
“The vision of an inclusive and welcoming community has been part of Kendal’s values for decades and is one of the pillars of our current Strategic Plan. The LEI Survey created an opportunity for self-study of our procedures, messaging, and staff training as they are perceived by the LGBTQ+ community. We are so pleased to be recognized as a Leader in the LEI,” said Seth Vilensky, Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, Kendal was just one of two communities highlighted in the 2025 report.
In 2018, during Kendal’s 25th anniversary celebration, residents announced the formation of an awareness, advocacy and support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other gender non-conforming residents, staff and allies at Kendal.
Since then, LGBTQ+ & Allies activities at Kendal have included:
Training sessions with related organizations at Oberlin College and in Lorain County;
Letter-writing campaigns to the Ohio governor and legislators advocating for civil rights for LGBTQ+, most recently voicing its opposition to the Ohio Bathroom Bill. This legislation, which went into effect in February, mandates that students in public schools in Ohio be restricted to using restrooms associated with their biological sex assigned at birth without regard to their gender identity or gender expression. “This letter sent a strong signal that our community wanted to make Ohio a welcoming place for all seniors to spend their retirement years,” CEO Seth said.
Movies, speakers, book clubs and workshops held throughout the year, with added emphasis during June Pride Month;
This year, the LGBTQ+ & Allies established task groups to enhance its advocacy and action.