GEORGETOWN — Representatives of the Elder Justice Network of the Greater North Shore will make a presentation on elder abuse and neglect on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 7 Andover St. The program is being hosted by the Georgetown Council on Aging.
The Elder Justice Network is a multi-disciplinary coalition with a diverse membership — area residents, local business people, legal professionals, public safety and law enforcement personnel, domestic violence advocates, representatives from area colleges and faith communities, and health and human services workers — all with a common interest: to raise awareness about the growing problem of elder abuse and neglect in our society.
"It is amazing to see the different backgrounds and experiences that bring people to the table to be a part of this group," said Katie Galenius, one of the presenters, who is the founder and co-chairwoman of the Elder Justice Network. "But the bottom line is that we all care about seniors in our communities and want to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect."
Galenius has devoted her professional career as a licensed clinical social worker to that cause as the director of a unique program at Greater Lynn Senior Services that provides counseling, intensive supports and other services to older women throughout the North Shore who are the victims of abuse by an intimate partner or spouse. It is the only program of its kind in Massachusetts and one of only a few in the country that specifically address the needs of this population.
"Now, more than ever, it is critical that we keep the spotlight on this growing problem," said Dottie Davies, the director of Elder Protective Services at GLSS. "Many organizations serving seniors have seen a sharp increase in calls, due, in part, to the economic downturn and the additional stress this is placing on seniors and their families and caregivers."
Elder abuse takes many forms: physical, psychological, financial, verbal, sexual and includes cases of domestic violence, neglect and abandonment, as well as self-neglect.
"Raising awareness about this issue is one of the best ways we can help prevent it," said Deb MacGregor, who co-chairs the Network with Galenius and directs the Community Awareness and Prevention Team in District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett's office. "Our presentation helps people understand the warning signs of abuse and neglect and what it means to report, but we also want to address the importance of developing and maintaining healthy relationships with our families and caregivers as we age."
The Elder Justice Network is sponsored by GLSS and was made possible by a grant from the federally funded National Center on Elder Abuse's National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. For more information about the presentation, contact the Georgetown Council on Aging at 978-352-5726. For more information about the Elder Justice Network, contact Elizabeth Cochran at 781-586-8511.
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