Place and wellbeing: shedding light on activity interventions for older men

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, one in five of the population is an older man, many of whom live alone. Loneliness and social isolation is a growing issue for many of these older men, one that has been associated with elevated blood pressure, poor physical health, increased mortality and mental ill-health, including depression, suicide and dementia. Lone dwelling and social isolation have tended to be viewed largely as issues affecting older women due to their greater life expectancy (LE), but the LE gap between men and women is closing, presenting new challenges for the health and wellbeing of older men. This is not unique to the United Kingdom. Yet whilst inclusionary social spaces and supportive social ties can be important for enhancing physical and mental wellbeing amongst older people, evidence suggests that lone-dwelling older men can experience greater difficulty in accessing effective social support, relative to older women. Understanding those spaces of communal activity that are likely to be successful in promoting health and wellbeing amongst older men is thus important if we are to improve their quality of life. In this paper, we draw on research with a ‘Men in Sheds’ pilot programme in the United Kingdom, to illustrate how everyday spaces within local communities might be designed to both promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of older men. In doing so, we aim to offer insights into how Sheds, as created and gendered spaces, may not only engage older men in ways that help to maintain their perceived health and wellbeing, but also provide sites within which older men can perform and reaffirm their masculinity.

‘Don't fix what ain't broke’: evaluating the effectiveness of a Men's Shed in inner-regional Australia

“…They have also engaged men in informal adult learning activities, provided health‐related information and referred men onto relevant services to promote their health and well‐being (Milligan et al . ). Men's Sheds offer a non‐threatening space for men to engage with other men (Milligan et al .…”

Home away from home: Health and wellbeing benefits of men's sheds

“…This study assessed Men's Shed members’ perceptions of the health and wellbeing benefits of shed activity in a large regional Queensland Men's Shed. The Men's Shed demographic profile in this study was similar to other Australian Men's Sheds . The membership consisted primarily of older men over the age of 70 years from all socio‐economic backgrounds.…”

“…This apparent social cohesion and social capital is consistent with Men's Shed research elsewhere, where shedders have reported feeling equal with other shedders regardless of age or experience, and they feel socially connected and included . Participating in Men's Shed activities may take away fears of being lonely and socially disconnected during their retirement years when they may find it harder to make friends . Healthy social networks have found to diminish the adverse effects of retirement and social isolation, and many men need social contact as well as meaningful and challenging activity to maintain their sense of identify obtained through previous family and work roles…”

“…In this study, Shedders’ mental health and wellbeing was slightly better to that of other Men's Shed and non‐shedders of the same demographic in a previous study . Previous studies have found the Men's Shed provides a supportive coping mechanism in difficult times through the cognitive stimulation activities provided, valued sense of self achievement, self‐worth and personal accomplishment . Our study, however, did not find any change in overall sense of achievement in life.…”

“…Research has also found physical health benefits from shed activities by keeping shedders fit and active as they work on projects. Shedders have also been found to report more frequent health visits and healthier diets than the general male population …”