Older women struggle to find help for chronic pain

A COTA Victoria survey has found that many older women experiencing chronic pain struggle to find effective support and feel marginalised by health services that lack necessary empathy and understanding.

While some women reported positive experiences with local health providers, the overwhelming majority found no or limited pain management benefit from services.

Systemic problems include long waiting lists, prohibitive costs, and barriers to medication.

Feedback suggests that most older women with chronic pain want better help from medical and allied health practitioners in local, in-person settings. There is also scope for improving help through online, peer,and social and activity-based programs.