A happier old age : a discussion document on elderly people in our society / Dept. of Health and Social Security, Welsh Office.

  • Department of Health and Social Security
Date:
1978
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: A happier old age : a discussion document on elderly people in our society / Dept. of Health and Social Security, Welsh Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tion authorities, and indeed families and the community to play in helping people to adjust to retirement. What kind of help and advice 1s needed to assist people in making this important change in their lives and in developing the right mental attitude to retirement ? How can families be helped to prepare for the changes and new opportunities—and in most cases the fall in income-that follow the retirement of a breadwinner ? b. Leisure and Employment Opportunities 2.4 Retirement affords opportunities for people to use their time in many satisfying ways. Community affairs and work in voluntary organisations occupy some; others find fulfilment in voluntary service without being committed to a formal structure. The Govern- ment sees all this as most valuable for both the individual and society as a whole. But the scale on which older people participate in com- munity activities is not as great as it might be. How can opportunities for community service be extended, and older people encouraged to take them up ? 2.5 Elderly people can also make good use of the facilities for continuing and broadening their education and recreational activity. The adult education services and other local organisations generally provide a wide range of activities which enable elderly people to pursue new and stimulating interests and perhaps find a new base for social contacts. It has been suggested that insufficient account is taken of the recreational needs of elderly people, especially in the planning and design of new indoor sports facilities. Elderly people may not be able to take part in the more active forms of sport, but for many, exercise of some kind may well be important in keeping fit. What can be done to improve the range of educational and recreational provision for elderly people ? 2.6 Some people wish to continue in employment after normal retirement age although the current high rate of unemployment highlights questions about the relative importance of work for differ- ent age groups and limits the scope for otherwise desirable develop- ments. The current level at which the earnings rule begins to affect retirement pensions (see Chapter 4) allows quite a wide margin for those who want to do some kind of work after retirement. A number of employers provide facilities for their older workers to continue in employment by working shorter hours in a new setting. Other less formalised work schemes also provide the opportunity for some to develop latent skills. Voluntary bodies are especially active in this sphere. What encouragement should be given to the extension of opportunities for work after retirement ?