Older women often find themselves facing grief, financial worry and failing health alone after people they have cared for have died or are busy with their own lives.
Such women can muster strength by joining together, according to Mimi Williams, a social worker with United Charities who will lead a new support
group for women over age 60 beginning this week in Du Page County.
The theory is that older women have a hard time talking about their problems with younger people. So they suffer in silence. Widowhood, deaths of friends, ailments of old age and financial worries are often more easily discussed among peers, Williams said.
The support group beginning this week is the third of its kind in three years offered by Family Service Du Page, a program of United Charities.
Williams said she keeps her role to a minimum, limiting herself to offering tips about overcoming depression, reducing stress and coping with grief. The women in the group then discuss and put into practice the suggestions.
”Taking some of these lessons and trying new ways of handling things takes a lot of courage,” Williams said. ”But it`s much easier to do when you have people encouraging you.”
Williams said a typical problem faced by older women is lack of a sense of purpose. ”By helping other women, they recognize their own strengths and their own problems are less likely to overwhelm them.”
The two groups begun previously have continued to meet for up to two years, Williams said. The group starting this week will meet weekly for at least six months.
Williams said the only criterion for admission is that a prospective member be at least 60 and willing to help others and set self-development goals.
There is a sliding scale fee of $1 to $35.30 a session for the support group, a percentage of which is covered by Medicare, but Williams said women unable to pay will not be turned away.
The support group will meet 1 to 2:30 p.m., Thursdays, at the York Township Senior Center, 1502 S. Meyers Rd., Lombard. Pre-registration is required. Call 708-833-1353.
For information about United Charities` other programs for older women in the Chicago area, call 312-436-2400.
