3 Retirement Challenges the Experts Never Told You About

CHICAGO, IL July 15, 2004 -- It's not what you have for retirement that matters, but how you reinvent yourself so you retire with vigor, finds new research reported in the new retirement planning book, "Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," by a 30-something university dean and retirement transition expert.

"Baby Boomers, who will live another 20 or more years after retirement, are demanding a full and rewarding second life that will be much different than the one they left behind," said Dr. Maria Malayter, PhD., who wrote "Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," published this spring by iUniverse. "This new vision of retirement is going to force major changes to the services human resources professionals offer to their retiring employees."

An assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at National-Louis University, Chicago, and previously a professor there in Applied Behavioral Science, Dr. Malayter – Doc Maria, as she's know to her students and colleagues – has studied and tracked retiree and retirement trends since 1993. She also owns the consulting practice, Innovations in Change (www.DocMaria.com).

"Older workers are bombarded with retirement advice about money, health and relocation issues, yet somehow we have forgotten that in retirement, the need for relationships, the thirst for learning and the desire for meaning become major challenges that retirees struggle to fulfill," said Doc Maria, who, as transitions instructor at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL, conducted considerable research with men and women transitioning out of the workforce.

Doc Maria said she recognizes that basic human needs such as housing, income and good health are the foundation of any life. "But my research with retirees and Boomers now exiting the workforce shows they face three important challenges to a fulfilling second life that no research or advice has supported until now."

Based on her studies of retirement trends and retirees, Doc Maria said those retirees who've found retirement richly rewarding had to first reinvent themselves for this new cycle of their life. Those challenges are, she said:

-The deep desire and continued need for relationships and companionship: Retirement is a period of soul-searching and transformation. Companions help us find the way and help us define our new identity outside of work. This desire often extends beyond what spouse or life partners can offer. Many Boomer retirees find they need to forge new relationships and develop new companions through hobby-related activities, volunteer work or social activities. Some return to part-time jobs or second careers to fulfill this need.

"Such social supports help retirees keep track of each other's lives, which provides another reason to live and stay healthy so they can continue to contribute," Doc Maria said.

-A continued yearning to learn: To validate this finding, one need only look at the number of older Americans and retirees attending college or continuing education programs. In fact, Doc Maria notes in "Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement," more than 300 U.S. colleges – including Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, have established "learning in retirement" programs to meet older adults' need to be intellectually challenged.

-Spiritual and holistic well-being: To find meaning in retirement, retirees will return to faith-based endeavors or pursue personal spiritual matters to address well-being issues. Many find such endeavors help to replace the emptiness that comes with retirement after the prestige, position and power of career no longer give purpose.

"The time spent in retirement is to make up for perceived missed opportunities due to work commitments," Doc Maria said. "Embracing spiritual matters helps many experience self change and self happiness as they enter retirement."

"Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement" has special emphasis for human resources professionals who will need to better understand how to deliver the type of retirement planning services retiring Baby Boomers will demand.

"The Baby Boomer generation is approaching retirement age, and society will be surprised if preparation is not considered," Doc Maria said.

"Boomers: Visions of the New Retirement" is available online at www.amazon.com.

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Jim Leman
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jimleman@comcast.net




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