WLEN- Worcester LGBT Elder Network, is a joint effort of Elder Services of Worcester Area Inc.,Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging and the Worcester Senior Center, with ongoing collaboration with the LGBT Aging Project in Boston. |
 Rainbow Lunch Club Bus Service Did you know that you can reach the Rainbow Lunch Club via public transport? The outbound WRTA Route 8 bus from Union Station to the Greendale Mall stops on Shore Drive across from the Unitarian Universalist Church parking lot. The inbound trip from Greendale Mall to Union Station stops at the bottom of the parking lot. A bus leaves the Union Station Hub at 11:30 a.m., from City Hall at 11:33, and arrives across from the church at Shore Drive and Holden Street at 11:43 a.m. Buses from Greendale Mall to Union Station leave the UUWC parking lot at 1:07 p.m. or 2:07 p.m. They arrive at City Hall at 1:25 and 2:25 and at Union Station at 1:30 and 2:30. |
Elder Services and its programs are funded in whole or in part by contracts with or grants from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. It also receives Federal financial support under the Older Americans Act provided by the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging. Funders also include United Way of Central Massachusetts, local Councils on Aging, participant donations, grants and individual support
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 Now Twice a Month Worcester LGBT Elder Network, Elder Services of Worcester Area and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester are proud to announce that the Rainbow Lunch Club will now meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. WLEN, ESWA and UUCW have jointly sponsored the lunch program for LGBT people 60 and over since July 2012. About 15 to 20 diners gather for lunch every month provided by the ESWA Nutrition Program. A program or speaker follows. Beginning in May, the lunch on the second Wednesday of the month will include a program. The other lunch, on the fourth Wednesday, will be followed by a social hour so participants can get to know each other better. The diners themselves requested a second lunch and more time to socialize. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester has graciously extended use of its kitchen and meeting space for our second monthly lunch. The agencies are extremely grateful to the corps of volunteers who help setting up, serving and cleaning up. Jesse Pack, director of education and prevention at AIDS Project Worcester, will talk to diners on May 14 to update them on information about HIV/AIDS in the older LGBT community. Since life-saving drugs became available 20 years ago, more people infected with HIV are living into old age. More alarming is the number of new infections that continue to occur in the older population. Lunch is served at noon. The UUCW is located at the corner of Holden Street and Shore Drive in Worcester, next to Bancroft School. Access to the parking lot is off of Shore Drive. See the sidebar for information about WRTA bus service. Reservations are required a week in advance, so we can be sure to have enough food for everyone who shows up. You may call Joan Anderson at (508) 756-1545 ext. 404 or email her at wlen@eswa.org. You may also join the Rainbow Lunch Club Meet-Up Group at http://www.meetup.com/Rainbow-Lunch-Club/ and reserve from that page. MENUS: (May 14): Cheese/spinach omelet, O'Brien potatoes, mixed vegetables, cinnamon crumb cake. (May 28) Pasta primavera, Brussels sprouts, Chocolate pudding. Upcoming Dates: May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 13, August 27
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Substance use problems among older LGBT adults
Compiled by Joan Anderson,
LGBT Peer Worker
First of two parts
 Substance abuse among the older LGBT population is an invisible epidemic. Although lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aging adults in the U.S. are typically well adjusted and mentally healthy, the Institute for Medicine (IOM) reports that aging LGBT populations are at a substantially greater risk for substance abuse and mental health problems.
Substance abuse continues to be prevalent in the aging LGBT community for many reasons, including lack of supportive relationships, isolation, and invisibility. Feelings of shame and guilt, low self-esteem and internalized oppression also impede recovery. Some older LGBT people have endured their families' persistent limited or negative expectations for them and their life prospects, and they have felt the need, in the face of gay bashing, to suppress anger and defensiveness. Failure to deal well with multiple social identities and oppressions represents barriers to treatment and recovery.
Studies indicate that, when compared with the general population, LGBT people are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, have higher rates of substance abuse, are less likely to abstain from use, and are more likely to continue heavy drinking into later life. Some studies have found that approximately 30 percent of all lesbians have an alcohol abuse problem. Studies that compared gay men and lesbians with heterosexuals have found that 20 to 25 percent of the gay men and lesbians are heavy alcohol users. Alcohol and cocaine use has been found higher among lesbians than among heterosexual women. Among LGBT persons who use and abuse alcohol and all types of drugs, certain drugs seem to be more popular than in the general population. Studies have found that gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM) are significantly more likely to have used marijuana, psychedelics, hallucinogens, stimulants, sedatives, cocaine, barbiturates, and MDMA.
According to the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, alcohol and prescription drug problems affect 17% of older adults. Physiological changes related to aging (e.g., decrease in alcohol and drug metabolism) cause stronger and longer lasting effects from substance use. Health problems are triggered or worsened by misuse/abuse/addiction. Harmful reactions and interactions occur from using many prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal remedies, especially when combined with alcohol and drugs. These mixtures can be fatal. Medical providers may not be evaluating or assessing substance use and may not be aware of abuse or addictions.
NEXT: What services are available for treatment and recovery?
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Happy Event
WLEN's 'Happiness at Any Age' event on April 16th was a huge success. Thank you to Dr. David Nowell for sharing your wisdom with us. The audience left informed and enlightened.
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