By Jeanne Brideau

My introduction to the Men’s Shed movement came about during a casual conversation about positive aging in Perth, Western Australia in 2015. Someone said that, whilst staying positive is a challenge for many senior citizens, men, as compared to women, seem to experience more loneliness, depression, alcohol or drug abuse as well as other physical and mental problems often erroneously associated with age.
This conversation led me to explore the topic of Men’s Sheds, a movement which is part of the Australian well-being landscape.  More than 1000 sheds belong to the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA). Here’s how it works. First, I will ‘’zoom in’’ on a typical Men’s Shed and then I will explain how this movement is contributing to a shift in attitude for many men.

Place: a large garage, barn, shed or hangar divided into open sections containing work benches, work tools and equipment. Each section has a specific purpose. In one section, there is furniture in different stages of repair, in another there are lawn mowers, bicycles, snow blowers. Another space is filled with cubby houses, bird houses and yet to be completed shelving units, while another has a computer corner. In one corner there are sofas, rocking chairs, a table and chairs; this section is obviously a comfortable space to share a tea or coffee.

Atmosphere: men from all walks of life are shoulder to shoulder, sharing stories, working together to restore furniture, share computer skills, repair small machines, build items to be sold, raffled or offered as a contribution to a community event. The atmosphere is congenial and laid back. Most of the men are retired and have found this haven where they can, at their own pace, continue to be useful, pursue activities that have been an integral part of their working or leisure lives and sometimes learn new skills. Some come mostly for the comfort of the place, and to enjoy a cuppa with the boys. Here and there, young men can be seen learning new skills and benefitting from the experience and wisdom of older men. The place is like a beehive seemingly co-ordinated by a chap who could have won the Mr. Congeniality contest.

You have just witnessed a scene found in both rural and urban settings in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and more recently Canada, Japan and at least 6 European countries. The concept was initiated in Australia in 1978 with the aim of breaking the cycle of loneliness and exclusion experienced by many elderly men. It sought to provide a venue for informal learning, sharing of skills and knowledge, and the opportunity of working on personal or community projects in a safe, non-judgmental and intergenerational environment. From the onset, it proved to be especially popular among retirees, and men going through divorces, bereavement or loss of employment.

Australia has kept the lead in being a model for other countries. With the launch of the federal government’s Male Health Policy in May 2010, three million dollars was allocated to the Australian Men’s Shed Association on a per member basis representing an estimated 175 000 individuals. This is Western Australia’s definition of a Men’s Shed: WAMSA recognizes a men’s shed as any community-based, no-profit, non-commercial organization that is accessible to all men and whose primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and welcoming environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time, in the company of other men. A major objective is to advance the health and well-being of their male members and to encourage social inclusion. Refer to Wamsa.org.au.

The grassroots movement is mostly identified as a non-profit, charitable organization. In some instances, trust funds and grants offer monetary support, whilst universities and private companies are becoming involved thanks to the immense effort and dedication of the Men’s Sheds’ founding members. Together, they are joining forces to make their regions’ sheds a viable means to counter the social exclusion of men with time, expertise and energy to share. With the creation of national associations, information is shared, services and systems are created and toolkits, as well as manuals, are developed thereby facilitating the task for the establishment of new sheds.

In Canada, Manitoba and B.C as well as Halifax NS are working together to set up a network, which will be conducive to the creation of a Canadian Association of Men’s Sheds reflecting the vision and needs of the various Canadian communities. A toolkit for the setting up of Men’s Sheds has been developed by the UBC’s Men Health Research and is being piloted in 2015. Moreover, UBC has involved university students to help identify ways to enrich and to add an intergenerational component to the project. Since Men’s Sheds do not exist solely for seniors, but are accessible to all men regardless of age, health condition, ability, background or culture, the input of the younger generations seems essential to ensure the visibility and viability of the movement now, and in the years to come.

And so, it is interesting to note that a movement generated by a need to contribute to the well-being of older men has crossed oceans and continents. It addresses the fact that in Western countries senior men often have limited social networks, serious health problems and premature mortality rates and focusses on a way to harness the incredible goldmine of competence and wisdom held by senior men. In allowing men to regain a sense of purpose and dignity whilst improving and maintaining their health and well-being, Men’s Sheds go beyond the individual’s needs and contribute directly or indirectly to family and community interests.

For more information refer to:

• Barry Golding’s most recent (2015) research and writing project: The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men . Common GroundPublishing, Illinois, published August 2015
• A 25 minute documentary: Turning point Irish Men’s Sheds ….a must for anyone interested in Men’s Sheds.
• Okanagan Men’s Shed Association.
• Men’s Shed Manitoba
• www.mensshed.org/Who-is-AMSA www.wamsa.org.au/
• www.niace.org.uk /campaigns-events/events/discovering-mens-sheds
• Mr. David Willoughby (co-ordinator) Herbert River Men’s Shed, Queensland Australia-hrmshed@hotmail.com
• Mr. Doug Mackie, Mens’ Shed in Winnipeg, dmackies@mymts.net 204-832-0629
• www.youngretired.ca
• An article written by Kristin A. Reynolds, Corey s” Mackenzie, Maria Medved and Kerstin Roger published in Ageing and Society, volume 35, Issue 03, March 2015, p.531-551
• Menshealthresearch.ubc.ca/starting-mens-sheds-canada
• Mens’ Sheds-John Oleffe of UBC speaking on global news, youTube.ca
• Movember.com

By Jeanne Brideau

As a senior, do you miss out on many activities or events which you enjoyed as a younger person? Do fear and anxiety impact the quality of your life? What is the difference between fear and anxiety? These are questions that we, at senioraction.ca have discussed, researched and share with you. Our intention is to help seniors come to terms with the fact that we can age positively by accepting that fear and anxiety are part of every human being’s life. However, it is how we deal with these emotions which defines our quality of life. Let’s start by defining fear and anxiety.

Forsyth and Eiffert define fear as follows:

Fear is an intensely felt alarm response that you must have to survive. It helps you take protective action when your safety or health is threatened. When you experience this emotion, your body will do a number of things to help you get moving to take care of yourself. For instance, you may experience rapid heartbeat; breathlessness; smothering sensations; increased blood pressure; feel hot, sick to your stomach, or dizzy; or break out in a sweat. You may even feel as though you’re about to pass out…..Fear also tends to heighten awareness of your surroundings so that you may quickly detect sources of danger.

In walking alone in a poorly lit parking lot at night, in being approached by a stranger in a quiet section of a shopping mall or neighborhood, one could experience fear. This emotion is based on what is happening in the present. Though fear is terrifying yet it is useful. It is a survival tool. As seniors, our past experiences often highlight situations which have taught us where fear will be experienced. It makes it possible for us to move into a defensive mode, to move away from a perceived threatening situation and, if necessary, to fight to defend ourselves. Most seniors rarely experience fear either because they restrict their activities, live in a sheltered environment or simply because they are cautious and knowingly avoid potential threatening situations.

Anxiety, on the other hand is defined by the same authors as being:
…a future-oriented mood state. People know anxiety by having anxious apprehension or a sense of foreboding, worry and muscle tension. You still need the capacity to experience anxiety because it can help motivate you to get things done…anxiety tends to be fueled more by what your mind says than by real sources of danger or threat.

Thus, because of the possibility of danger in crowded places, one could decide to avoid concerts or movies, shopping, taking daytime walks, travelling, etc. As elderly people, we are not as strong, as fit, as confident as we once were and these changes bring about a gradual modification in our lifestyle . Considering that anxiety is about what ‘could’ happen, it would seem important to reflect on the role we allow anxiety to play in our modified lifestyle, and to ask ourselves if our reaction is not overly restricting. If we consider the positive side of anxiety, it can become the impetus to plan ahead or to take decisions which take into consideration our limitations as well as our interests. Thus, anxiety can contribute, to some extent, in making life more enjoyable.

In becoming aware of the difference between fear and anxiety, it is possible to focus on specific behaviours, to examine them and to realize their reason for being. In contemplating certain scenarios, the anxious mind can set the stage for feelings of discomfort, vulnerability and even sheer terror at the thought of what might happen if ? It is important to realize that this emotional state is experienced by everyone, young and old, at various degrees. For everyone, the challenge lies in how we deal with anxiety. Do we let it sabotage our well-being or do we allow ourselves to view the other side of the coin. As mentioned previously, realizing that anxiety can be a motivating force to counter avoidance or procrastination could perhaps help shed a new light on a situation. Yours truly must admit that before writing any article destined for the Senioraction website a certain uneasiness, an inspirational void and a feeling of being vulnerable makes writing the first draft quite challenging…anxiety at its best!

Once upon a time, most of us have felt (at varying degrees) invincible, fairly competent, independent and generally capable of coping with everyday events. As we age, these traits are often challenged, and, more so with each passing decade. It is very easy for anxiety to settle in and eventually take control of a large number of our decisions and lead us to gradually retire from most social events.
In 2011, Sean Coughlan, a BBC correspondent wrote an article entitled <>. According to this article, a lack of social interaction can make old people more vulnerable to depression and to problems such as excessive drinking, poor diet and a reduction in exercise. Of course, there are numerous reasons to account for the isolation experienced by seniors. However, it is highly possible that anxiety plays a role in some of their decisions regarding social activities or activities outside their comfort zone.

It is inspiring to observe active seniors and to note how they have adapted their lifestyle to match their declining physical and mental abilities. These are examples which we have observed: visually impaired seniors attending readings by students, golf players enjoying a game with a caddie and ample use of golf carts, seniors learning to play a modified game of badminton, globe-trotters partaking in organized tours, volunteer workers contributing to worthy causes whilst respecting their individual limits and, the list goes on. What do these seniors have in common? They have identified and accepted their declining capabilities and have not allowed anxiety to dictate their lifestyle. It certainly takes a good dose of humility and courage to come to terms with who we are now, at this moment, and to decide that a way to continue to live positively and happily is possible. Happiness at any age is a birthright, how often do we consider this?

And so, whilst fear and anxiety will always be part of who we are, we do have the power to determine what degree of influence we allow these emotions to have on our lives. Positive aging is not about avoiding situations of fear and anxiety but rather realizing that, at any age, we can be courageous, decisive and move forward.

References
Coughlan, S (2011). Loneliness is ‘hidden killer’ of elderly, www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12324231
Forsythe,JP, Eifert GH,(2007) The mindfulness and acceptance workbook for anxiety, New Harbinger Publications, Inc. Oakland, CA