"THE HEALTH OF OLDER WOMEN"

Date: Friday, December 4, 1998
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Location: HSC 1A4

Presenter: Irene Turpie, M.D., Professor, Medicine; Executive Member, Women's Health Office

Older women face a wide range of health concerns including Alzhiemer's disease, elder abuse, and osteoporosis. Loneliness, institutionalization and the use of hypnotic medications further complicate these issues. Join with Dr. Turpie as she discusses various aspects of older women's health on Dec. 4.

THE HEALTH OF OLDER WOMEN

In December, Dr. Irene Turpie presented an engaging and informative overview of the issues relating to the health of older women, that is, women in the 70+ age range.

Dr. Turpie began her presentation by highlighting the fact that for every 100 women over the age of 85 there are 40 men. Women are living longer with higher morbidity rates than ever before, and, as their age increases, so does the likelihood that they will be widowed, living alone, or dependent upon their children for care. These women will be more likely to seek medical attention and institutional care for chronic diseases, but because of their age, many will not have the benefit of sustained diagnostic attention, nor the aggressive therapies prescribed women 10 to 20 years younger. Cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, as pap smears and mammogramms are often put off or delayed. Anti-osteoporosis treatment is not being prescribed, and older women are less likely to receive intensive CVD therapy such as beta blockers and anti-coagulants. The sexual health of older women suffers from such factors as co-morbidity, the lack of available partners and the ageist attitudes of health care providers. Spousal abuse is less likely to affect older women, due to their widowed marital status, although physical abuse at the hands of stressed family and institutional caregivers remains a hidden, but prevalent problem. Older women are also prime candidates for financial abuse perpetrated by both family members and con artists.

Of vital importance is the exclusion of older women from medical research. Adverse drug reactions often occur as therapies designed and tested upon men and younger women fail because of the differing physiological and pharmacological conditions many older women face. At the outset of her presentation, Dr. Turpie posed the question: Is aging itself a gender issue? The answer, clearly evident throughout her talk, is a resounding yes.