Older Women and Well-Being (eBook)

Acknowledgements 5
Contents 6
About the Editor 8
1 Older Women: Global Concerns and Responses Toward Their Well-Being, Is a Serious Issue—An Introductory Note 9
2 Beyond the Barriers of Aging—Coping, Caring, and Contributions of Older Women 15
Introduction 15
Women and Aging 16
Successful Aging 17
Case Studies 18
Case Study 1—Namrata Patil (83 Years) 20
Case Study 2—Savita Dwivedi (67 Years) 21
Case Study 3—Vidya Talati (66 Years) 22
Case Study 4—Pallavi Desai (71 Years) 23
Case Study 5: Geeta Nanavati (71 Years) 24
Case Study 6: Purna Shah (65 Years) 26
Case Study 7—Usha Joshi (72 Years) 27
Case Study 8—Jayna Soni (73 Years) 28
Case Study 9: Ganga Patel (84 Years) 29
Analysis and Discussion 30
Health 30
Exercise, Meditation, and Yoga 31
Religion and Spirituality 31
Economic Security 32
Meaningful Engagement 32
Contributions 33
Social Support 34
Childhood and Other Life Experiences 35
Travel and Exposure 35
Positive Outlook and Acceptance of Change 36
Conclusion 36
References 37
3 Women as Elder Caregivers in a Global Context 39
Introduction 40
Cultural Landscape of Eldercare 42
Consequences of Care 42
Health and Caregiving 43
Ethnic and Racial Differences in Caregiving 44
Public Policy and Caregiving 45
Caregiving Options and Work 46
Career-Related Coping 47
Conclusion 48
References 49
4 Understanding and Responding to the Needs of Older Women Who Have Experienced Mistreatment 52
Introduction 53
State of Knowledge 54
Defining Mistreatment 54
Estimating the Scope of the Problem 54
Ascertaining the Obstacles and Incentives for Older Women in Requesting Help 55
Determining the Obstacles to, and Incentives for, Asking for Help in the Specific Context of Mistreatment of Older Women (N = 8 Articles) 57
Conclusion on the Status of Knowledge for All Genders Combined 58
Methodology 59
Research Design 59
Recruiting Participants 59
Sample Characteristics 60
Data Collection 60
Findings 60
Data Collection Findings 62
Final Conceptual Framework 67
Validating the Findings 68
Discussion 70
Conclusion 71
References 73
5 Health and Well-Being in Older Women: A Universal Issue 77
Introduction 78
Physical Health Issues in Older Women Across Continents 80
Health Issues of Aging Women in America 80
Health Issues of Aging Women in Africa 81
Health Issues of Aging Women in Asia 81
Health Issues of Aging Women in Europe 82
Psychological Well-Being of Older Women 83
America 84
?Africa 85
?Asia 86
?Europe 88
Emotional Health and Social Wellbeing 89
America 89
Africa 90
Asia 90
Europe 91
Need for Recognition and Attention: Policy Making 92
Challenges for Older Women 93
America 93
Africa 93
Asia 94
Europe 95
Positive Developments for Older Women 95
Conclusion 96
References 96
6 Depression in Elderly Women: Clinical Challenges 101
Introduction 101
Epidemiology of Geriatric Depression in Women 102
Geriatric Depression in Women in Underdiagnosed 102
Factors Implicated in Geriatric Depression in Women 103
Risk Factors 103
Protective Factors 103
Spousal Loss and Grief 104
Depression in Women Who Are Caregivers 104
Depression in Women with Medical Illnesses 104
Clinical Features of Geriatric Depression in Women 105
Subsyndromal Depression in Elderly Women 106
Treatment of Geriatric Depression in Women 106
Early Detection and Diagnosis 106
Managing Patient Adherence and Compliance 107
Approach to the Treatment of Geriatric Depression in Women 107
Collaborative Care in Women with Geriatric Depression 108
Health Care Issues that Must Be Addressed 108
The Role of the Family 108
Specific Areas that Need to Be Addressed 109
Need to Create Awareness About Geriatric Depression 109
Training of Family Physicians and Mental Health Professionals 110
Overlap of Depression and Dementia 110
Conclusions 110
References 111
7 Older Women Killed by Their Partners: A Socio-Demographic Analysis and Risk Factors 115
Relevant Definitions 115
Violence 115
Gender-Based Violence: Partner Violence 116
Elder Abuse/Maltreatment 121
Gender-Based Violence Against Elderly Women 126
Analysis of 30 Cases of Intimate Partner Femicides of Elderly Women in Spain 128
Conclusion 133
Bibliography 134
8 Life World of the Oldest–Old Women from Phenomenological Persepective 137
Theoretical Background 138
Limitations of the Study 140
Objectives of the Study 140
Sample 140
Aging Scenario in India, Karnataka and in the Study Area 141
First Round of Interview 142
Second Round of Interview 144
Third Round of Interview 145
Results 149
References 150
9 Older Women in India: Differential Vulnerabilities and Empowerment Interventions 152
Introduction 152
Aging in India 154
Health Vulnerability 155
Economic Vulnerability 156
Psycho-Social Vulnerability 158
Theorizing Vulnerability and Empowerment 160
Initiatives on Empowerment of Elderly Women in India 163
Conclusions and Suggestive Interventions 169
References 170
10 WHO CARES? Challenges of Women Aging in Contemporary Indonesia 172
On Aging in Indonesia 173
Feminization of the Elderly is Irrespective of Gender Compositions of the Youth 174
Indonesian Elderly Women and Men in the Household 180
Who to Live with in Old Age? 186
Access to Housing 189
Hygiene and Sanitation 192
So, Who Cares? 198
The Strength of the Family Throughout Life 200
References 202
11 Plight of Older Americans: Insights into the Lives of African American Women 207
Physical and Mental Health Outcomes and Health-Seeking Behaviors 210
References 213
12 Older Women and Agism 215
Introduction 215
The Rise of “Agism” 216
Gendered Agism 217
The Double Jeopardy of Aging 218
Images of Women, the Mass Media, and Aging 218
Gendered Agism and the Labor Market 220
Gendered Agism and Health 221
Conclusion 224
References 227
13 Dementia and Women—Global Concerns 231
Introduction 231
Life Course Perspective 232
Terminology Used in the Chapter 232
Few Considerations 232
Epidemiological Concerns 233
Dementia and Its Global Burden 233
Lack of Access to Dementia Care 234
Lack of Diagnosis in Women 234
Risk Factors for Dementia in Women 235
Treatment Response in Women 236
Dementia Care for Women 236
Elder Abuse and Dementia in Women 237
Women as Caregivers in the Dementia Process 237
Future Research Needs 238
Conclusions 238
References 239
14 Negotiating with an Acquired Disability: Experiences of Elderly Women in Kashmir 242
Introduction 243
Elderly in Kashmir 244
Methodology 245
Conclusion 250
References 251
15 Some Insights on the Living Arrangements and Quality of Life of Older Women 253
Introduction 254
Elderly Women as a Vulnerable Group 255
Research Design 256
Operational Definitions 256
Measures Used in the Study 258
Sampling Procedure 259
Framework of Analysis 259
Results 259
Profile of the Respondents 260
Family Background 260
Work and Economic Background 262
Living Arrangements of the Sample Elderly Women and Their Quality of Life 264
Factors that May Influence the QoL and Related Domains of Older Women in LAs 268
Discussion 272
Who Were These Older Women? 272
Living Arrangements of Elderly Women and Their Quality of Life 273
Factors Influencing the QoL and Related Domains of Elderly Women 275
Suggestions and Implications for Social Work Practice 276
Suggestions for Specific Programs to Update Policy and Legislation for the Older Women 276
Implications for Social Work Practice 277
Bibliography 278
16 Psychosocial Challenges of Older Women and Services to Facilitate Their Well-Being 280
Introduction 280
Psychosocial Challenges in Old Age 280
Androcentry in Gerontology 281
Sexism and Gender in Old Age 281
Feminization of Aging 282
Conclusion 282
Challenges of Changing Family Life for Older Women 283
Living Arrangements 283
Changing Family Roles and Relationships 283
Challenges of Caregiving 284
Challenges of Neglect and Abuse 285
Conclusion 286
Challenges of Changing Marital Life for Older Women 286
Changing Marital Roles and Relationships 286
Challenges of Sexuality in Old Age 286
Conclusion 289
Challenges of Grief and Bereavement for Older Women 289
Challenges of Grief and Bereavement 289
Challenges of Widowhood 289
Conclusion 291
Summary of Psychosocial Challenges faced by Older Women and Services to Facilitate Psychosocial Well-Being 291
Summary of Psychosocial Challenges Faced by Older Women 291
Psychosocial Well-Being 292
Workshops for Life Skills Development 293
Facilitation of Reminiscences and Life Reviews 294
Death Education 295
References 299
17 Project Nana: Seasoning Our Seasoned Women 301
Background 303
Rationale 305
Community Analysis 307
Solutions to Meet the Needs 310
Planning Procedures 314
Theoretical Approach 315
Theory of Planned Behavior 315
Social Cognitive Theory 316
Intervention Design 317
Evaluation Design 322
Method of Evaluation 322
Results from Pilot Workshop 323
Discussion 325
References 326
18 The Status and Well-Being of Elderly Women Suffering from Dementia: Case Studies from Bengaluru 329
Introduction 330
Methodological and Theoretical Background of the Study 331
Understanding Dementia 332
Understanding Dementia as Caregiver’s Challenge 334
The Impact of Dementia Care 336
Findings on Family Caregivers 345
Findings from Institutional Case Studies 347
Limitations in Personal Care 347
Issues in the Use of Antipsychotic Medication for People with Dementia 348
Comprehensive and Affordable Dementia Care Model 352
Toward a Geriatric Inclusive and Dementia Friendly Social Order 354
References 356
19 Women Workers in Informal Economy and Aging Concerns 358
Introduction 359
Aging Population—Trends and Challenges 359
Employment of Older Workers 360
Women in the Labor Force 363
Nature of women’s Work 365
Informal Economy and Aging Concerns 367
Access to Social Protection and Entitlements 370
Conclusion and Way Forward 372
References 375
20 The Elderly Women #metoo Left Out 377
Introduction: A Resounding Silence 377
No Common Definition 378
The Abusers 380
The Silent Victims 381
The Silenced Victims 382
Underreported Crimes 383
Denial of Proper Care 385
Failing Healthcare Services 388
Failing Justice 390
Conclusion: Breaking the Silence 392
References 392
21 Neglect, Abuse, and Violence in Later Life: Intersectionality of Gender and Age 398
Introduction 398
Population Aging and Gender 399
Feminization of Aging 399
Theoretical Perspectives 399
Examples of Older Adult Abuse in Three Frames and Implications of Older Women 401
Definitions of Older Adult Abuse 401
Abuse of Older Women as a Human Rights Violation 402
Implications of Different Frameworks 403
Implications for Policy and Practice 404
What Practitioners and Policymakers Need to Know About Interventions 405
Barriers to Effective Elder Abuse Practice 406
Promoting the Interests of Older Women at the United Nations and Internationally 406
United Nations Organizational Changes to Promote Gender Equality 407
Examples of Researchers Who Challenge Siloed Approaches to Understanding Neglect, Abuse, and Violence Against Older Women 408
Gaps in Prevention and Intervention 409
Summary and Recommendations 409
References 410