THE next time you see one of the older women from the Falls Women’s Centre, please do say hello – just don’t call them a “wee woman”.
The Falls Women’s Centre’s older women’s group, which is for anyone aged 60+, meets weekly.
Funding dependent they carry out projects, programmes, and activities such as arm chair yoga and day trips, or simply have a cup of tea together and catch up with what’s been happening in their lives.
Speaking in the centre to the Andersonstown News, the women raised a variety of issues about health. Group project manager Claire Golden has been facilitating the group on a voluntary basis for around six or seven years. Claire said it provides purpose and friendship to the women, and that mental health and physical health are a big focus for them.
“The group has to be a social experience,” Claire said. “For the older generation I don’t want to see or hear about women sitting in the house doing nothing. I think that has a detrimental effecton your mental health.”
Over a cup of tea and buns some of the West Belfast women shared their health experiences with this newspaper, and offered younger people some advice.
Bridie McCabe (69) enjoys going out walking, and occasionally swimming, and said noticing changes in her health has been a relatively recent occurrence.
“I have noticed as you get older you need to build the strength in your bones and muscles which we never really knew about back in the day. Now women are educated about the need to strengthen and exercise your body.”
Some of the women said they 'sailed' through menopause, while others found the symptoms longer lasting and more challenging than expected.
“Women are now more educated on the menopause, and more able to talk about it, which is a good thing, as they can talk to their doctors about it,” Bridie said.
She also has concerns that in 2026 funding and resources are perhaps more focused on men’s groups because women’s groups have been around for years, and can be “taken for granted”.
Lily Toal (79) said she was “doing alright” keeping active, gardening, painting, and holidaying right up to her late 70s, and has always enjoyed baking.
Not eating and sleeping properly, and challenges with medications, led to her experiencing “black outs”.
She loves the Falls older women’s group for chatting and company, and the sense of community that exists in it.
Lily also loves her Shih Zhu dog Molly and getting out to the centre to socialise.
Kate Corrigan (71) was diagnosed with thyroid issues and also diabetes in her 60s which she found “quite shocking” at the time.
“You have to watch what you are eating and drinking,” she said. “It took me a while to get used to it.”
Kate says keeping on top of any health issues is important, as is good communication with your GP.
She believes access to doctors isn’t what it used to be, and definitely not as easy as it was many years ago.
“Nobody wants to sit for hours in hospitals waiting to be seen,” she said.
The group reflected on older women being made to feel old by younger people. Whether that is being referred to as “a wee woman” when you are in the hair salon, adult children cautioning against older years challenges with living arrangements and finances, or TV advertising constantly broadcasting about the need for wills, or trying to sell funerals.
They also find chemist shops are a good source of advice from pharmacists. Getting on with life with as little drama as possible is adviseable, and they talked about increased life expectancy, and living healthy years for good quality of life.
Top tips from the women include keep going to the gym throughout life, look after yourself, eat healthily, and maintain a healthy weight.
The Public Health Agency’s Take 5 initiative recently helped the women with their health and wellbeing by encouraging them to connect and build relationships, be active, keep learning, notice your environment and feelings, and that small acts of kindness to others enhances and improve their lives.
SENSE OF COMMUNITY: Susan McCrory is the managing director of the Falls Women’s Centre
IT literacy, and benefits assistance are among the women's centre services they can avail of when needed, and Claire noted the impact the current cost of living crisis is having on older women’s lives.
“The cost of living has a huge part to play in an older person’s mental health because it can be a case of 'heat or eat'.
“Can they afford to eat right? It needs to be looked at so older women who aren’t lucky enough to have a nest egg are supported.
“It is far too often ignored. Women without the means cannot be left isolated.”
Regarding the positives of attending women’s groups Bridie said: “It is good for your mental and physical health. We do chair exercises and get out to community gardens. Sometimes when we go out on a trip with Falls Women’s Centre, another women’s centre will be there, so you are meeting other people too,” she said.
Kate added: “It’s great to get out and meet everybody. It lifts your mood.”
Falls Women’s Centre/Ionad Mhná na bhFál, established in 1982, and run by Susan McCrory and her team, is a feminist organisation committed to promoting structural and gender equality for women.
It offers child care, training, education, advice, advocacy and family support, as well as programmes for every age of woman, and a range of other community development services.
For more information visit https://www.fallswomenscentre.org
