Senior Women’s Rights: Advocacy Beyond Retirement Age

A lot of conversations about women’s rights focus on younger generations—education, reproductive justice, workplace equality. All crucial, no doubt. But what happens when women retire? Do the battles magically stop? Not even close. In fact, for senior women, new layers of inequality often pile on: financial insecurity, ageism, inadequate healthcare, and even safety concerns. Advocacy for women doesn’t have an expiry date, and ignoring the needs of older women leaves a huge gap in gender justice.

Why Senior Women Face Unique Challenges

A lifetime of inequality doesn’t vanish at 65. It compounds.

• Financial insecurity: Because of wage gaps, unpaid caregiving, and career interruptions, women retire with smaller pensions and savings than men. According to Statistics Canada, senior women are more likely to live in poverty than senior men.
• Healthcare inequities: Older women face higher rates of chronic illness and often inadequate access to geriatric care tailored to their needs.
• Caregiving burdens: Many senior women continue unpaid caregiving for spouses, grandchildren, or even elderly parents, stretching them financially and emotionally.
• Violence and neglect: Elder abuse, often underreported, disproportionately affects older women, especially those who are socially isolated.

Policy Advocacy That Matters

Groups like the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) and the National Association of Federal Retirees have been pushing governments to look at senior women not as an afterthought, but as a demographic with specific rights. Key policy demands include:

• Strengthening the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security to reduce senior poverty.
• Funding affordable, accessible long-term care with gender-sensitive practices.
• Expanding home-care programs to support aging in place, particularly for women living alone.
• Enforcing stronger protections against elder abuse, including financial exploitation.

The Role of Healthcare Reform

Healthcare is a frontline issue. Senior women need more than generic checkups—they need care that reflects their lived realities. That includes better dementia support (as women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s), reproductive health services across the lifespan (menopause care, osteoporosis prevention), and access to affordable medication.

Education and Awareness: Fighting Ageism

Advocacy also means shifting cultural perceptions. Too often, society frames older women as “burdens” rather than contributors. In reality, senior women volunteer at high rates, contribute childcare support for families, and pass down cultural and community knowledge. Campaigns that highlight these roles can chip away at stereotypes and ageism.

Intersectionality Still Counts

Not all senior women experience aging the same way. Indigenous women, racialized women, and immigrant women face sharper financial insecurity and healthcare barriers. An intersectional approach ensures advocacy doesn’t flatten these differences.

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