Older women are 'invisible' and desperately in need of a voice

The International Longevity Centre-UK is setting up the Older Women’s Policy and Research Action Alliance to give a voice to older women, who are too invisible in today’s society.

The think tank announced its intention at the launch of a collection of essays called ‘Has the sisterhood forgotten older women?’ revealing the struggles older women face as they age.

The 38 essays penned by high profile authors show while women are living longer, they are not necessarily living a happy or healthy older life.

In her essay titled ‘Older women and care: Are they invisible to the sisterhood’, Michelle Mitchell, charity director general of Age UK, argues older women are disproportionately affected by inadequacies of care and support. In the UK, women account for two thirds of community care users over the age of 65, and three quarters of people in residential care.

She said: “Despite care having been on the feminist agenda for years, the issue of it in later life has remained shrouded from our viewpoint, as millions struggle in quiet crisis. Yet nowhere are the compound challenges of class, gender and age more evident and nowhere are older women more in need of a voice.”

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said in her essay ‘Older women carers: invisible and ignored' “Older woman carers play a powerful role in our society caring for others, often across the generations for grandchildren, partners, and sometimes parents; yet it is a role with very little power for the individual. This needs to change.”

Baroness Sally Greengross, chief executive of the ILC-UK called for women to engage in the debate on social care in order to reach a solution that works for everyone. She said: “The debate on the future funding of social care is not an academic one. For millions of women, the decisions made by politicians over the next couple of years will have far reaching implications.

“It is also essential that the caring contributions of older women are not ignored. Future care reform must take account of and not disincentivise the informal care contribution of older women.”

She urged people everywhere “to embrace the demographic dividend and harness the potential of our older female population, while at the same time advancing and empowering dignity in older age”.

Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of care home provider, Anchor explored the invisibility of older women in her essay ‘Oh I didn’t see you there’ and found ageing in men is often seen more positively than in women – many older men are described as wise and experienced, whereas the expression “don’t be such an old woman” is used to convey entirely negative characteristics”.

The essays also explore the need for a stronger focus on the health of older women, recognising for example that women are disproportionately affected by dementia.

The Compendium of Essays ‘Has the Sisterhood forgotten older women?’ is available from from the ILC-UK website www.ilcuk.org.uk/index.php/publications

Contributors to the Compendium of Essays include politicians, policy makers, academics and campaigners. These include Lynne Berry (Women In Public Policy), Jane Ashcroft (Anchor), Sheila Gilmore MP, Ros Altmann, Geraldine Bedell (Gransnet), Heléna Herklots (Carers UK), and Marina Yannakoudakis MEP.