Older Women and Financial Literacy - Bridging the Income Gap (2010-2012)
Principal Investigator: Lynn McDonald, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
Funded by: Status of Women
This three year national project aims to foster the economic security of older women 55+; particularly women who are unattached or immigrant, through enhanced financial literacy. Evidence suggests that these women experience the greatest economic challenges and would be the greatest beneficiaries of financial literacy resources. Older women will participate in the development and sharing of financial literacy resources: an information kit with a series of 5 pocket tools (retirement financial planning; pensions/entitlements; banking; legal: POA, guardian/trusteeship; and financial abuse) and peer education modules in urban, suburban and rural communities in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. This project will adopt a participatory approach to strengthen the leadership of older women in their communities through the replication of peer education using a “train the trainer” approach that will impact and engage older women beyond the project timeline.