Senior Women and Rural Living

Abstract

This study examined perceptions of what is important to maintaining health and well-being for senior women, 65 years or older, living independently in a rural community. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 22 senior women and 10 informal and formal support providers identified by the women participants. Participants discussed physical and psychosocial health care needs, available resources, and accessibility to health-related services. The senior women also expressed their desire to remain in their own home and community despite the challenges of household maintenance, distant family members, loneliness, chronic transportation difficulties, and limited access to social resources. Burdens placed on the voluntary efforts of informal care providers were also identified. Study findings suggest that women’s needs exceeded the resources available, and that accessible health and social support services must be organized, funded and factored into future health services and community development planning to meet the needs of senior women in an aging society.