When Needs Arise, These Older Women Have One Another's Backs

The Caring Collaborative program brings older women together to help one another when short-term illness or disability strikes, addressing an all-too-often unmet need, reports Kaiser Health News . Loners, like most Caring Collaborative members, frequently worry about finding this kind of aid. Across the United States, 35 percent of women 65 and older fall into this category, while 46 percent of women 75 and older are in the same category. The Caring Collaborative includes an information exchange, which members use to share information about medical conditions and medical providers; a service corps of women volunteers to provide hands-on assistance to other members; and small neighborhood groups that meet monthly to discuss health topics and personal concerns. The program started 10 years ago in New York City and has since spread to Philadelphia and San Francisco. Many members of the program's New York City branch are retired professionals who want to make new friends and explore activities after leaving the workforce; they reach the Caring Collaborative through its parent organization, The Transition Network. Members consent not to reveal confidential information about one another, give medical advice, or perform medical tasks like bandaging a wound or giving someone medication. Fundraising and an annual $100 membership fee for The Transition Network covers costs for the program.