This page is intended to provide space for the community of older women to talk to each other. Your contributions here will be published upon approval by the moderator, and may be subject to minor editing. If you wish to contact OWN directly, please see the Contact page.
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I would like to go some of your events, and likely join and meet other women in my or similar situations, but I am still working and am distressed that events are always during M-F 9-5 hours.
Yes, I understand your frustration. Most of our members are not working and prefer daytime events. Please consider attending our AGM on Sunday, June 10, and also our 25th Anniversary celebration on Sun., Sep. 23.
I enjoyed the video on older women in New York and their obsession with fashion – not exactly a serious issue but fun. However I was less impressed with the fact that it linked us to a number of sex videos – not good considering the well known exploitation of women in pornography.
Hmm. I’d be distressed to learn this, but I can’t see it myself. Can you describe the effect more exactly? Eleanor
Hello:
My name is Sedona and I was reading some of your posts here. I had to take my CPP early having had a Cancer Dx – no choice, worked all my life saved RRSP, but this happened. I am interested to network with ladies in similar positions, just to chat, support one another and exchange ideas.
Sedona
residing in Metro area
Hello all, having read the mission and the details of this wonderful organization. I am thinking it is exactly what I need. I am a retired university teacher and performer, in my 60′s and in the process of separating from my husband of 39 years. Our lifestyles have become too divided to make it possible for co-living. I moved from the west coast to Toronto 3 years ago and need to find a small apartment of my own…on a limited income as I cannot yet touch my university pension.I was an original member of the feminist movement in the 60′s in university and a first subscriber to Ms. Magazine. So I am totally there! Hope to hear from someone regarding membership, events and apartment availability. I will fill out the application. Thank you. Jeanette Dagger
Thanks, Heather. I appreciate the response.
I am in fact looking at claiming CPP early once EI benefits run out. I may have no choice but to do that. I think what hits people my age – women, overwhelmingly – is the unexpected debt of caring for someone at a time in our own lives when we should have been looking toward an adequate retirement. I saved all my working life into RRSPs, but almost half of what I have saved for my own older years will be gone in payment of debt incurred as caregiver to a Mom with Alzheimer’s. So much of the cost for equipment and supplies was not covered by any other method than this daughter’s VISA. Had I been able to continue working for a few more years and not hit the burnout wall, that would have helped.
All it takes is an unexpected and catastrophic illness – even someone else’s – to wipe us out.
I attended the NICE workshop this week on Financial Literacy for Older Women (in response to a flyer posted here at OWN). One of the suggestions at the workshop was to “name” your savings accounts so you wouldn’t be tempted to dip into savings for frivolous expenditures. Unfortunately, in my 20s and 30s, it didn’t occur to me I would have to subsidize my Mom’s care. My Mom also saved for her own older years but her savings and pensions were not enough to cover the cost of the paid caregiver she needed. How much will be enough for any of us?
Chris – You might reconsider claiming your CPP – we have talked to our financial advisor and he says there is not that much of a difference (penalty) and you can get access to money quicker – also, there are upcoming changes to the legislation governing it — changing to allow access earlier.
I am new to Older Women’s Network – just recently joined – and I’m only just beginning to think of myself as an older woman. I’ve read material posted on this website (under “What We Fight For”) about pension reform, housing, and health care, and I’m wondering what we can do to help. Maybe putting a face to the problems will help support OWN in its advocacy efforts. Here are my issues:
a) Home care: I am personally affected by caregiver issues, even months after my caregiver time is over. I was caregiver to a Mom with Alzheimer’s for 3 years. I saw firsthand the sorry state of home care in Ontario (and heard about it from other caregivers all across the country). I am now $20,000 in debt, much of it a result of our “Mom’s care, daughter pays” Alzheimer years – equipment, supplies not covered at all (have you checked out the cost of adult diapers lately?!), and a paid caregiver whose salary was not entirely covered by my Mom’s pensions.
b) Employment: Although I worked full-time while having equally full-time caregiver responsibilities, burnout resulted in my leaving the job a few months after my Mom died. I needed a break. Now, having been out of the workforce for some months, I’m finding it a challenge to get back in – and I am hearing from too many other women in the same position. There are no employment or retraining programs available to older women that I have found so far. The government’s Targeted Initiative for Older Workers doesn’t apply to me.
c) Poverty: Although I got EI when I left my job, it will run out in a few months, and then I will have no income. At 63, I am too young for Old Age Security, would face a financial penalty if I claimed CPP early, and couldn’t live on just CPP anyway, even at its maximum. I shouldn’t have quit a paying job, but I couldn’t have gone on, either.
I know of too many women in situations similar to mine. Too many professional caregivers trying to feed their own families on $10 or $12 an hour their agencies pay them – and getting only part-time hours at that. Too many women struggling to provide care for husbands and parents and children, all at the same time, being penalized – losing out on pension contribution years – and living way too far below the “poverty line” in their own “golden years.” I know of women scared silly they won’t be able to provide for themselves when they need to be doing that.
There is so much to think about, my head hurts!