GLSS program helps older abuse victims

LYNN – Ageist assumptions that older, battered women are resistant to change or aren?t in need of assistance, have been shattered one by one through an innovative program at Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS).Katie Galenius, licensed independent clinical social worker and director of the Older Battered Women?s Group at GLSS, said the program has provided free and confidential care to women in need since 1997.Funded by the Massachusetts Victims and Witness Assistance Board, the specialized program is one of the state?s first support groups for older battered women.?A lot of the women say that they keep hoping that their partners are going to change, and more often than not, they don?t have many friends to talk to and are isolated by their partners,” Galenius said. “So it?s pretty uplifting to bring them together.”Designed as an interagency collaboration between GLSS, Help for Abused Women and their Children (HAWC) and Neighborhood Legal Services of Lynn, Galenius said the program originally targeted women over 60.?We found that younger women between 50-60 felt more confident being in groups with older women, talking about their problems,” she said. “It?s really pretty powerful when you hear older women say, yeah honey, I heard the same thing (from my partner) 20 years ago.”The weekly sessions offer ongoing support for those in need assistance, which Galenius said makes a “huge difference” in the women?s lives.?There are so many women who thought they made their bed and had to lie in it with their marriages,” she said. “Some women say their father or their clergy told them that there?s nothing outside of ?til death do us part, but a lot of women have decided that they deserve to be happy and have left their partners.”According to Galenius, the goal of the program is to enhance services for older women who are victims of partner abuse and to increase public and professional awareness about domestic violence against older women.In addition, services also include sensitivity to aging issues, in-home support services, crisis intervention and counseling from the battered women?s network.Free legal assistance, support, education, individual and group counseling and emergency shelter are also offered.?We?re in this for the long haul,” she said. “We?ve had clients for 10 years already and have helped well over 250 people since we started.”The services are available to women 50 years of age or older who live in the North Shore area and are experiencing or have experienced physical, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse by a spouse or partner.Galenius stressed that the program is not a replacement for elder protective services, but can work collaboratively with protective services in some instances.?There?s a lot happening here in Lynn and it?s important to get the word out about the program before a crisis hits someone,” she said. “Most people think that if it?s not physical, then it?s not abuse?but that?s just not true.”For more information about the program, call GLSS at 781-599-0110, or email Galenius at [email protected]