REGINA – Older women who feel isolated in their homes or communities have access to resources and support as a result of an 18-month project in Saskatchewan.
The Network of Older Women, a project funded by the federal government and co-ordinated by the University of Regina’s seniors’ centre, held a series of workshops throughout the province and has produced a resource manual, mainly for women over age 55.
Isobel Spence, of Lafleche, Sask., chairs the network. She said the project is intended to strengthen support among older women.
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The manual helps women locate government agencies and representatives, find support groups or form their own.
Spence said the $15 manual, which will be placed in as many communities as possible, will be helpful to all vulnerable women, not just seniors.
“We are extremely happy with it,” she said. “It’s user friendly, it’s explicit, it’s comprehensive.”
Spence said attending the workshops has enhanced the lives of many older women in rural Saskatchewan.
“We were really aiming particularly at women with special problems of isolation, whether caused by their own failing sight, hearing or mobility, or being responsible for the care of a child or spouse, or poverty, or geographical isolation due to lack of transportation,” she said. “We wanted to bring to the attention of the whole community that there are a great deal more possibilities.”
Spence thinks the process led to surprises for some women. The aspect which stands out most for her is “the obvious need of many women to share their concerns with others in a frank and trusting way.
“If we did nothing else we relieved the burden from some who carried a very heavy burden.”
About 225 women attended the workshops. The average age of the participants was 70; the youngest was 56 and the oldest was 93.
Although the project officially ends this fall, Spence expects some of the new networks will continue.
“We forged some pretty strong links. A lot of women reinforced their leadership abilities. They found they did know and could do a lot of things they were reticent about doing.
“We did build confidence and did inspire some women to work at expanding their networks.”
