Many people lament how they wish they had a downstairs toilet. Comments like “if only I had known how valuable a downstairs loo would become”; “my stairs are too awkward for a stairlift, so I have to spend the majority of my time in my bedroom just so that I can get to the toilet”.

It is only relatively recently that houses are being built with facilities downstairs, but that means the majority of homes are not built for people beyond retirement age or indeed those with physical or mental challenges.

There has been a shift in thinking however, and councils are agreeing to plans for retirement villages and more bungalows. This report explains the origins of the bungalow and how the popularity continues which has begun to drive new building projects.

Whether we like the idea of bungalows or not, one has to agree that they could help us maintain independence just in case our health starts to deteriorate later in life.

Another idea is “Lifetime Homes”, homes that can be adapted according to our changing needs over the course of a lifetime. Innovative designs are being considered for specialist housing that put in place features such as wider doorways etc.

What a brilliant idea, to buy a house that has the basics in place just in case we need them. Food for thought for us all.

Planning for a healthy retirement

Retirement. Funny word isn’t it? Here are some definitions from the dictionary: withdraw from work; withdraw into privacy and seclusion; retreat. Withdraw? Retreat? These words seem so negative. Why not use the word re-invent instead? That’s far more positive and hopeful. Just because we leave our working life as we know it, doesn’t mean things grind to a halt.

Of course, some people love retirement, but they tend to be people who pursue hobbies they love, or learn something new, or have a great social life. Or perhaps they spend their days reading and going for walks and are in absolute heaven doing so.

Keeping active

Others however, find that their health deteriorates when they retire. Partly because working kept their minds sharp and they were physically more active. And of course, emotionally they felt better about themselves, because they were valued for their contribution in the work place. Self esteem and self worth can take a knock when people retire and this can lead to anxiety and depression.

Whatever one’s circumstances it is wise to find out as much as we can about how to retire well or indeed how to re-invent ourselves. The government is taking this seriously and has published a series of papers as general guidance – What to expect when you retire.

Flexible retirement

The financial implications of retirement are talked about a lot these days. If we retire in our 60s and live to be 100 (more and more are achieving this), that means we have to finance 40% of our lives from savings or pension funds. That’s a huge thing to consider. These articles do not cover financial planning, but they do consider flexible retirement. It seems so sensible to have the opportunity to work a couple of days a week for 3 months a year and the rest of the time draw down pension funds. The following link looks at flexible working in general. Flexible retirement and phased retirement are interesting topics and which we will discuss in more detail in the coming months.

What is exciting is the prospect of learning something new. We can lay down new neural pathways in our brains until the day we die no matter what our age, so exercising the brain with new activities and hobbies is a fantastic way to keep us young and enjoy retirement. Whether learning is for interests sake or starting a business, there are many opportunities on offer – Learning in retirement

Finally this paper by our Australian friends is food for thought. It covers some good tips on adjusting to retirement that may be work considering.

FAQs

I've worked all my life and I deserve to retire. I'm fed up with people saying we should keep working, I've had enough.

That’s perfectly understandable. If you’ve had enough of work, then retiring is well timed. The things to consider are these: are you OK for money? Have you had enough of work in general or is this specific to the job you’ve been doing? If your finances are healthy and you’ve had enough of working then go for it and enjoy every minute. But if you could try a different line of work would this be attractive to you? Whatever the answers, have a great time doing whatever you choose to do.

I tried retirement for a year and it was great. I got all those jobs done that I didn?t have time to do when I was working. But I'm bored now. I don't seem to have a reason to get up in the morning. Any tips?

Absolutely. You could try a new hobby, if you didn’t like it, you could drop that and try another. It doesn’t matter how many new things you try. How about going on a course or voluntary work? Are you an expert in something that would be useful to teach to younger people? Mentoring is a great way to feel motivated.

I've been retired for 10 years and I would like to go back to working in some way. The truth is I have lost a couple of friends lately and money is getting tight. So I thought I could kill two birds with one stone and get a job. The trouble is I've lost confidence and worried I won't be able to keep up.

We can always learn new things, we may be a little slower to pick things up, but employers know this. Try to find a job that doesn’t involve too much new technology so as to build your confidence. What is it you’re good at or love to do? Can you turn this into a part-time job? You have a wealth of knowledge and experience that someone out there would love for you to share. You could try writing down the names of absolutely everyone you know, both old and young. Then contact all these people and tell them you are looking for a job opportunity. You could be surprised just how effective your network is.

My husband is driving me mad. He retired a few months ago and is constantly under my feet. If I hear one more time "are there any plans for lunch?" I will go crazy. If he's not careful I will walk out. Help!

A lot of women say the same thing so you are in good company. It is a good idea to sit down and talk about it. Choose a time when you are both calm and in a good mood. Tell him that you think it’s great that he now has time to do the things he wants, but you need to put down a few parameters. Explain how you want it to be and be prepared to compromise a little. For instance, you could say that you take it in turns to get lunch, or you will get lunch when you’re home otherwise he needs to feed himself. Tell him you love the things you do and want to continue doing them. Perhaps he needs to find new things to do himself. If that’s the case help him find them by discussing possible options. Communication is key here.

What Kind of Home Would You Like?