Men prefer woodwork not bingo

Older men are concerned about their health and well being; but they need different messages and assistance than those given to older women., according to experts speaking at a recent Community Care Conference.

They want to try and solve any health problems themselves before seeking professional help, and their post retirement social activities need to be meaningful rather than mindless – woodwork not bingo. But some men will just put up with being unhappy and lonely rather than behave like women in similar positions.

James Smith from the University of Adelaide’s School of Population Health & Clinical Practice debunked myths about men’s disinterest in their own health.

“Rather than procrastinating, men may delay going to the doctor so that they can watch a health problem to see if it will fix itself,” he said.

“Men act as personal health detectives, monitoring rather than ignoring symptoms, and visiting the doctor only if a problem fails to resolve itself. However this delay can lead to increased severity of an illness or condition.”

“Our (South Australian) findings suggest the amount of time they had to monitor their symptoms, their previous experience of illness and the health services, their capacity to maintain their regular activities and the perceived severity of their health concerns, affect the timing of their decision to seek professional help.

“We need an alternative approach to promote men’s interaction with health services across Western cultures.”

Anthony Brown from the Men’s Health and Information Resource Centre at the University of Western Sydney also saw the need to change the ways older men were encouraged to participate in social and health activities.

Men want meaningful activities that produce social or economic benefits – such as woodworking in a men’s shed rather than playing bingo, he says. And while men acknowledge the way women can socialise easily with others to deal older life changes such as widowhood, divorce, and bereavement, many men wouldn’t do it themselves and can’t see alternatives to being lonely. That’s why  the idea of mens sheds where men can socialise the way they want to, are so beneficial.