Moira Welsh, a political writer and investigative reporter for The Toronto Star, has been covering the seniors’ beat for quite a while and is something of an expert on the topic. Her latest book, The Astonishing Lives of Older Women, How To Create Pleasure Over Peril in Peak Longevity, is an eye-opener for anyone who thinks all retired baby boomers and seniors have it easy. I first heard Welsh interviewed about her book on CTV’s The Social. I was so fascinated by her story that I attended a subsequent book discussion between the author and former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynn at Indigo Bookstore at Sherway Gardens in June of this year.

During the Indigo session, Wynn and Welsh discussed the issue of poverty in older women—some case studies, how it happens, and how society and individuals are coping—or not. The fact that women who are educated and have worked their entire lives can end up living in their cars or in airless, tiny basement apartments is proof that an entire demographic has been ignored and is invisible. Not all women qualify as living below the poverty level, but their numbers are significant enough that it’s time the general population, as well as governments at all levels, rose to address the situation.

The Astonishing Lives of Older Women is an excellent read about a difficult subject. Welsh profiles three women in particular, Susan, Elizabeth, and Pat, whose resourcefulness in dealing with their circumstances is a credit to women in general. After working at demanding jobs, raising children, and outliving or leaving their husbands, they find themselves struggling to survive in an ever more expensive and demanding world. Even those who lived a reasonably affluent life may find themselves faced with unexpected poverty or homelessness in old age. Don’t accept expectations as a given.

Most women find that as they age, they depend increasingly on their female friends for support and sanctuary. Celebrity activist Jane Fonda, who is now in her late 80s, sums up the value of female friendships: “I exist because I have my female friends. They make me stronger, they make me smarter, they make me braver. They tap me on the shoulder when I might be in need of course-correcting.” 

No one, least of all widowed and single women, should face old age in poverty and loneliness. Our patriarchal society has penalized women in so many ways since the beginning of time. Temporarily leaving the workforce to birth and care for children means women lose their place in line for promotions and raises at work. Consequently, they are paid about 25% less than men overall, and their respective contributions to the Canada Pension Plan are proportionately lower, ultimately lowering the payout in their 70s, 80s, and 90s.

There are a couple of movies you might want to watch before or after reading this book to broaden your understanding of senior challenges. Lady in The Van (which I’ve watched twice already), starring the wonderful Maggie Smith, is based on the true story of an elderly, transient woman who parks her van in the Camden Town driveway of British playwright Alan Bennett. It’s both funny and heartbreaking. The other movie I suggest is Nomadland , starring Frances McDormand. It’s a documentary film based on a composite of true stories of itinerant older people in the United States. Both movies are excellent, and I strongly recommend them.

In my blogs over the years, I have always strongly advocated that young people manage their finances starting in their twenties to prepare for a safe, comfortable life later, and particularly in retirement. This advice is rarely understood or acted upon when you’re in your 20s and 30s (I was one of those procrastinators), but when you reach mid-life, you may want to alter the course of your life. You may want to leave an unhappy marriage, or find yourself unexpectedly widowed, be faced with a personal crisis that takes you out of the workforce for a period of time, or simply want to leave your job and change direction. Building a nest egg from a young age means you will have options if you fall off or hop off the treadmill as you age. Max out your RRSP every year, take full advantage of TFSAs, build equity, and set yourself up to change course without suffering financially later in life.

The final chapters of The Astonishing Lives of Older Women are particularly meaty, but don’t skip over the earlier chapters. This book is chock-full of thought-provoking information that is relevant to people of all ages, and I highly recommend it. Welsh has included an extensive bibliography, but I think the book would have been even better if she had included a summary list of resources. We’re lucky that we live in Canada with universal healthcare. It may not be perfect, but Canadians don’t risk losing our home or ending up sleeping in our car because we lack the money to pay for a hip replacement or heart surgery. We live in a benevolent country, but seniors are still vulnerable to homelessness, loneliness, and financial destitution. Awareness can lead to actionable solutions, and the plight of many of our seniors is not to be underestimated. Welsh brings this home in her highly readable book.