Getting help with small home tasks that are not supported by available services is among factors affecting quality of life for older women living alone, new research has found.

When support was needed, a lack of knowledge was also a major barrier to accessing services, with many feeling the aged care system was “too much system and not enough action”.

The findings, published in Ageing and Society, are based on qualitative research undertaken by the Bolton Clarke Research Institute with older women living alone in Melbourne. The research is the first study of barriers older women living alone face to living independently in the community.

They form part of the broader Older Women Living Alone co-design project which identified finances, mobility and ability, transport, mental and emotional health, social connections and participation and knowledge as major barriers to independence.

Researcher Marissa Dickins said 31 per cent of older Australian women lived alone compared with 18 per cent of older men. More than one in four Australians over 65 live alone.

“Ageing is experienced differently by women and men, therefore their experience of barriers and enablers to service usage are likely to differ,” she said.

“Women’s experience of growing older remains under-researched and barriers and enablers are rarely examined specifically for those living alone. To reduce inequity for this at-risk group it is important to identify the issues they face in accessing and using health and social care.”

Key issues women identified were:

• Financial – For many older women, limited or no workforce participation due to parenting or caring responsibilities, compounded by lifetime low wages or casual employment, resulted in a lack of personal financial resources or retirement savings. This forced difficult choices around spending, particularly for women with health issues. “It does limit what I can do,” one participant said. “A lot of friends go out for dinner and I have to say no because I can only just cover everything.”
   
• Mobility and ability – This affected many areas of women’s lives and was particularly frustrating in domestic life. Often, simple tasks not provided by available services were the greatest challenge. Limited mobility also hampered access to services including health services.
   
• Transport – The ability to drive was seen as an integral part of not only independence and service access but identity and wellbeing. Some had limited or stopped their driving for health reasons, while others had relied on a partner to drive. Inconsistent disability access and safety concerns limited public transport use.
   
• Mental and emotional health – Issues such as isolation, loneliness and depression were common. Adapting to changing health and new limitations was an issue for many, with these limitations often leading to women being housebound.
   
• Social connection and participation – Service access was seen as not just important for health services but for social connection. Many women said their families had busy lives and they did not want to be a burden. Neighbours were an important source of support.
   
• Knowledge – Women frequently spoke about a lack of knowledge being a major barrier to accessing services. Many did not know where to look. The aged care system was seen as needlessly complex and confusing, further complicated by its reliance on technology.
   

The research, which was funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation through the Eldon & Anne Foot Trust (Innovation Grant 2016) has already been used to co-design peer support programs including exercise buddies and transport help.