This article caught my eye the other day while reading the Washington Post. At first glance, it looked like something I wouldn’t normally read — a story about seniors. I have school-age children — so I’m not ready for senior living yet — but we all have seniors in our lives. And working at AAUW, it’s hard to ignore the compelling statistics about older women and retirement. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women live longer than men, necessitating extended health care and long-term care costs. Plus, due to women’s in-and-out employment patterns (leaving to have children or care for family), women spend less time on average in the workforce and receive smaller pensions and Social Security benefits, which we tend to count on for most of our retirement income. AAUW’s Public Policy Program advocates “strengthening retirement benefits and programs, including pension improvements and protecting Social Security from privatization,” and notes that “more than half of older women would fall into poverty without Social Security benefits.” That’s a disturbing reality.
The Washington Post article, “Assisted Living Facilities May Be Wise to Appeal More to Men” by Pam Gerhardt, focused on her search for a suitable place for her father and the preponderance of women in assisted-living facilities. The places she visited were full of doilies, chintz, teddy bears with bows, potpourri, and manicure afternoons. She mused, “I was reminded of my son’s experiences with elementary schools, where teachers ask antsy boys to sit at desks and read books about ponies.”
Really? There was more to come regarding “the female problem,” Men apparently want poker night, Saving Private Ryan, and a bar. I think she forgot to add places to sit and scratch, belching rooms, a 600-inch TV, and red meat night. Oh, there are lots of other amusing generalizations I could add. And the online article was illustrated with cartoonish elderly men — hence the lighthearted tone. When she noted the need for an all-male rehab place, her friend quipped that it could be called “he-hab.” (OK, that part was funny.)
But the main idea of the article was important — that as the number of Americans over the age of 60 increases dramatically in the coming years, the ratio of men to women in facilities might not change, (now 26 percent male, according to the National Center for Assisted Living), but there will certainly be a whole lot more men seeking accommodations. This suggests that facilities might need to consider making their environments more “gender-friendly” and attractive to men. Probably a valid concern, but I’m sure there are places out there where men and women coexist and with suitable activities for both groups (at least I hope so).
We want men and women to have comfortable environments and engaging activities in retirement. What’s also critically important is a woman’s ability to afford such retirement communities when they are needed. And that’s no laughing matter.
AAUW Dialog 
It would be great if everyone could afford the facilities of a quality retirement facility, but such is not the case.
I couldn’t agree with you more. It is indeed a bit alarming to think that women once they reach their retirement years has a strong likelihood of falling into poverty. Sad 😦
Nice post.It would be great if everyone could afford the facilities of a quality retirement facility, but such is not the case.
That makes a lot of sense. I never really thought about that until I read it here. Men and women do have different preference when it comes to leisurely activities so hopefully, facilities would also take gender into consideration.
Thanks for the excellent post.
This was a humorous take on the realities of aging that so many of us will face, and Gloria makes the excellent point that women continue to suffer the economic inequities of financial stability. It would be great if everyone could afford the facilities of a quality retirement facility, but such is not the case.