Each of us will inevitably face the prospect of retirement as time passes. For some, this means liberation from the irksome routine of work life and freedom to pursue the hopes and ambitions previously denied due to lack of time or opportunity. For others, the idea of having no particular structure to the day appears anxiety-inducing, even a little frightening.

Statistics reveal that forty-eight percent of workers say they need to earn more money to appropriately save for retirement. Over half of the working population plans to continue their careers after retirement. Worrying about retirement and having enough money saved up to retire is an understandably stressful thought. Trying to figure out retirement can be quite a daunting task – especially if retirement feels like it needs to be in sight! To ensure retirement funds are secure, it is important to be prepared and make steady retirement savings. This means planning ahead before differences between retirement income and expenses occur. And while making retirement savings may not seem as fun as a night on the town, it will provide you with peace of mind when retirement time rolls around.

We might feel that we are past our usefulness and sense a loss of respect from others younger than ourselves. However, it is only with age that we can gain a more accurate perspective on life; the experiences gained with the passing of the years allow us to gather a more realistic view of the world around us. Such realization empowers us to treat retirement positively as a chance to fulfill dreams and ambitions previously abandoned.

Feelings of Stress

Retirement should be deemed as being the final and most gratifying stage of our lives, providing as it does the chance to embark on a whole new chapter, yet it could also be considered as a stressful time; without the regular income a job brings, the stresses mount for those having to rely solely on a state pension for income. Often this is not enough to sustain the pensioner who has to resort to restricting his or her lifestyle almost to the point of frugality to survive. Any prospect of fulfilling long-held ambitions would appear unlikely in the extreme.

Seniors have faced immense difficulty living independently because, with age comes health problems, lower income, and reduced mobility. In an attempt to survive, some suppress the quality of their lifestyle by being overly frugal – but safety should not be one of those areas. Facilities like handicap ramps are an absolute must for them to safely enter buildings. It goes beyond convenience; ramps may even be a necessity one day as no one wants to land in the doctor’s office due to a simple stumble! While it may cost a bit more money, ramps are essential if we want our seniors to live happy and healthy lives.

A New Approach is Called For

This paints a rather unfortunate aspect of retirement, but should it necessarily be like this?

If health is maintained, should retirement necessarily foster a feeling of loss, both monetary and personal? Some new direction is needed to cultivate a fresh approach for the retiree. Still, except for a limited number of instances, opportunities for the older generation in the workforce are not readily available. This is partly because the young also need employment, so keeping an aging workforce would be detrimental to the community’s social structure. However, could it not be considered advantageous to have the older generation play a supportive role, using their vast experience and knowledge gained over the years?

A Positive Attitude

For some suffering from a decline in their physical fitness, prospects are still limited further, but not entirely. Each of us possesses a capability to be utilized and capitalized upon. A change of approach is, therefore, crucial for the happy transition of all those facing retirement. Indeed, some seek retirement early to pursue their dream, yet others regard it with dread. It is a prospect facing us all. Whether we seize the moment or succumb to our fears is our choice.

Therefore, a new positive approach should be cultivated, and rather than viewing the pitfalls of retirement, each should face it as positively as possible according to our individual parameters.

Bridging the Generation Gap

Such a situation provides an ideal opportunity to bring together old and young to join forces, each generation providing the other with the support it needs: the young needing experience, the elders requiring the energy of the young. It can therefore be considered that there is no place for the nurturing of a generation gap if we are to build a strengthened society where young and old alike may benefit in the long run: the elderly living a more fulfilled retirement, the young developing a new awareness of the value of age which in turn will help them when they too, inevitably, reach this stage in life.