Manifestation of ageism

Manifestation of Ageism

Ageism can be manifested in many different forms.  As systemic level, laws and policies ma be made without regard to the needs of older adults, or service cuts may have a disproportionate impact on older adults.  Ageism may take the form of “granny bashing” in the popular press (blaming many of society’s current economic worries  on older adults) it can be reflected in media where older adults are portrayed as uniformly well of group who are unconcerned about the needs of others.

Ageism may be more commonplace in economic and political literature where demographic shifts in the population are characterized as portending a future health crisis or ‘age wars’ with young and old fighting over their share of social and health services. Ageism and age discrimination are based on social fears, and social response expresses those fears.

It has been suggested that there can be both internalized and externalized ageism, Internalized ageism refers to the extent to which older adults take on social norms that devalue and marginalize older persons.  They may do this at an individual level by acting in ways that reinforces the youth norm – battling the obvious and visible markers of aging such as grey hair or wrinkles.  Internalized ageism may also be manifested by denial of any commonality with other in a cohort, such as familiar objection of an eight-year old woman or man who vehemently does not want to be associated with “all those old people”

A Retirement Readiness Questionaire

A Retirement Readiness Questionnaire [1]

1.   Why are you thinking about retirement now? (You get one point if you think that someone who knows you well considers your answer good and clear.

2.   Do you want to retire? (One point if yes)

3.   Have you attended a retirement preparation program or seminar focused on financial planning?

4.   Have you attended a retirement preparation program or seminar focused on social planning/ (community activities and interpersonal endeavors?)

5.   How would your finances be if you retired now? (One point if yes)

6.   Have you developed any outside interests? Hobbies, volunteer activities or areas of new learning. (One point if yes)

7.   Have you planned new activities where you would interact with people on a regular basis offering opportunities for new friendships? (One point if yes)

8.   What do your family and friends say about your retiring? (One point if they think you are doing the right thing)

9.     Have you considered whether you want a complete or partial retirement?  In other words, have you considered  part time or temporary work, or even a less that full-time small business venture? Emphases here are on consideration. (One point if Yes, even if you choose not to go this route.)

10.                During retirement will the process of making at least a modest contribution helping out in various volunteer or other activities be sufficient for you or do you feel the need to make an immediate major difference in what you do?  (One point if yes to the first part of the question or to the second part if you feel you have lined up an activity where you can an immediate major contribution.)

11.                What is important and fulfilling for you?  How do your retirement plans relate to your thinking here? (One point if someone who is reliable and knows you, feels you give a straight answer and considers your answer Good and Clear)

12.                      What is it that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose in life?  How do your retirement plans relate to your thinking here? (One point if someone who is reliable and knows you, feels you give a straight answer and considers your answer good and clear.)

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[1]  It’s a good idea to answer these questions and then discuss them with someone.  This comes from a workshop I developed several years ago. Take some time to think about the questions and what about your thoughts on retirement. The less number of thoughts, the less you may be prepared,

Phase Three on the Journey of Retirement

Phase Three

On the Journey of Retirement

         “Stress” time is characteristic of the Third Phase.  This occurs upon actual retirement.  This is the time when everyone dealing with retiree needs to be aware of and compensate for pressures and stresses the newly “freed” individual is subjected to.

In my particular case the stress came from the battle against mandatory retirement. For me, this journey of retirement is a battle to understand and accept the Idea, “I am who I am.” 

         Most of my life I have been a university psychology professor which is one of the main factors explaining why I have created this blog.  And, I can tell you that as we age there are other factors that trigger stress.  And I say, “Thank god for mediation.

Phase Two on the Journey to Retirement

Phase Two on the Journey of Retirement

The second phase begins about one and a half years before retirement. This period it the ‘Excitement Time’.  As the actual date  of retirement is now on sight, serious struggles in obtaining necessary  details about retirement benefits, income, health coverage etc.  Problems are often encountered that could have been solved if dealt with sooner, but, because of proximity of retirement must be dealt with as they are.

Phase One of the Journey of Retirement

Making the Most of Life During the  Eight Phases of Retirement[1]

Phase one begins about three to five years before retirement.  This phase is referred to as “Fantasy Time” as it consists primarily of dreaming and planning for retirement and the new options that will be available after retirement begins.

Now let the journey begin.  As a university professor, as far as work time is considered, I did not work five days a week for eight hours a day.  I loved, and continue to love, searching for information and providing it to others.   Because I was nearing 65 years old and mandatory retirement was still in place. I spent a couple of years fighting it and was able to continue teaching and research.  I can imagine, however, that many people who work full time at normal wages may think of with dreams of freedom and travel.  I see that people from all over the world visit this blog and I am interested in what both those still working and those retired think.

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[1]  This presentation was developed a number of years ago as part of my retirement workshop.  Over the next few weeks I will discuss  one of the eight phases about my self since I have retired. It would be really nice if we could have a discussion.

My Happiness in Retirement

My Happiness in Retirement

 I enjoy my freedom from the clock

And now take some time to grocery shop

Sometimes I don’t know what to do.

 Some day I want to visit a zoo.

After many years of modest wealth

All my muscles are in fine health

In a friendly neighborhood,

I have a hobby of carving wood

 

Helping Retirement

Helping Retirement[1]

Here is a scenario of a by a man who looked forward to retirement.

I thought it would be fun because I wouldn’t have the hammer hitting the time clock and thinking about what if something happens and you’ll get blamed for it.  Over the years I have worked on the evening shift and that made quite a difference in our family.  I thought it would be nice to be home in the evening.  When I did retire, I had been warned. “ Don’t hit the rocking chair.”  Well you can’t work all you life. I started work early. I thought e could do what we wanted.  Unfortunately things don’t always work out the way you want them to.

Dad had a stroke, so we didn’t do too much.  My friends also started demanding that I cart them around.  They knew that I was available.

We talked about me working two or three days a week. We could use the extra money.  We couldn’t afford a lot of entertainment.  We became very unhappy with our life style. We didn’t have the money to do what we wanted to do.  So, I was more or less disillusioned about that, not heart broken, it just put a damper on things. So I started working again. And Mrs. preferred. She could get her housework done more easily when I wasn’t around the house all the time.”

As I finished this post I heard my wife upstairs vacuuming.   I think I’ll go up and see it there is any way I can help her.  What do you think about the situation described above?

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[1]  The Above Scenario was taken from my Retirement Counseling; A Handbook for Gerontology Practitioners Constructed by Virginia  Richardson  ISBN 0-8261-7020-X