Divorce or bereavement can leave men will little or no social networks and with poor health due to heavy smoking and drinking, writes Áine Kerr.
The lifestyles of divorced, unmarried and bereaved older men, including poor social relations and health conditions, are often neglected in a society preoccupied with women's ageing issues, according to a leading expert.
Older men are significantly disadvantaged compared with their female counterparts who maintain better social relations, develop new friendships which are emotionally based and join formal organisations, according to Prof Sara Arber of the University of Surrey.
In her lecture entitled Reconceptualising Gender and Ageing: Have We Forgotten Older Men? in Trinity College on Thursday, Arber will outline the need for policymakers and community-based initiatives to recognise the needs of older men.
In the UK, where the number of divorces has been increasing dramatically in recent years, divorced men and women are now entering the older age bracket and by 2020, 14 per cent of people over 65 will be divorced, according to Arber.
Both male and female divorcees are often materially disadvantaged, but men enjoy fewer social relationships and social connectiveness.
"They enjoy far fewer relationships and rarely have anyone visiting their home or rarely visit others in their homes," says Arber.
Men who never married often become isolated, socially disadvantaged and lose contact with their families, compared with the older unmarried woman who will establish and maintain close relations with her siblings, nieces and nephews.
"If you ask a widowed woman if she enjoys any advantages since her husband died, she might tell you that she wished her husband hadn't died but add that she can now watch the programmes she wants and cook different meals.
"She can see the positives and enjoy more independence," says Arber.
"But if you ask a widowed man the same question, he would look at you as if you are completely mad.
"That's because many men had always enjoyed the freedom to do what they wished, and they miss their wife who once allowed them to do that," according to Arber.
The isolation to which older men become accustomed can subsequently affect the quality of their health, according to the eminent sociologist.
"Men have much higher levels of poor health behaviour and are more likely to end up in poorer health than women. Without care and support at home and in the community, they are also more likely to enter a home care setting at an earlier point," says Arber.
A recent research programme sponsored by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and involving Arber found many older men view a visit to the doctor as a sign of weakness, while those who are divorced are most likely to indulge in heavy drinking and smoking.
The sense of isolation experienced by older men is attributed to the community- based events, such as bingo and arts and crafts, in day centres and clubs which are too heavily geared towards the needs of older women.
In her research, Arber has repeatedly spoken to older men who "wouldn't be seen dead" in a centre perceived to cater only for women.
The simple addition of a bar, pool table or darts board would encourage men to socialise and help cease their "alienating" experience.
Sara Arber's lecture is being organised by the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies and the Social Policy and Ageing Unit at Trinity College at 4pm on Thursday, May 11th in the Printing House building at TCD.
- Contact the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies, tel: 01 608 2225 or wscentre@tcd.ie for further information.