AN EXCITING CHALLENGE -- MEANINGFUL RETIREMENT
Based upon our conversations with colleagues a number of years ago, VA psychology historian Rod Baker and I found that increasing numbers of psychologists were facing or entering retirement and many told us that they were not well prepared for that life shift. In 2014, we prepared a symposium for the APA convention to provide help for those approaching their retirement years. We believed that hearing the stories and lessons learned of psychologists who had already retired would be useful for others in anticipating and dealing with issues faced in retirement. Initially, our audience was small – 25 for the first symposium -- although their active participation was encouraging. In 2016, several attendees mentioned that they had stayed over for the Sunday presentations just to attend “Meaningful Retirement.” We had 90 attend that Sunday morning symposium. Interest continued to grow and in San Francisco at the APA 126th Annual Convention, there were over 120 in attendance.
Reflecting, I recall that when I served as APA President in 2000, Ruby Takanishi engaged the Council of Representatives in a discussion on the nation’s (and psychology’s) changing demographics, including aging, and the potential impact of technology on the field. It was evident that few colleagues could appreciate the magnitude of change that was forthcoming. In a similar light, over the years the Sunday morning presentations on psychology’s potential contributions to the field of gerontology, which I always found fascinating, were often sparsely attended.
During the five years we have presented at APA our symposium speakers have proffered several consistent messages. First, that many psychologists begin thinking of retirement as continuing some psychological activity with a “not-doing-as-much” intention. And that whatever psychologists were doing at the start of their retirement was not always the same as what they were doing in the middle to later retirement years. For some, the retirement years became a time to make some shifts in what they were doing for most of their careers. Whatever was chosen in retirement, however, it was important for most to retain a sense of achievement or satisfaction that had been given them during their career. Becoming engaged in what one now felt was a meaningful activity was critical. As Rod would point out, “If you do not like what you are doing, there is only one person to talk to.”
Some of our speakers, such as APA’s Merry Bullock, have actively expanded their trademark, for her international, contributions; others, such as Tom Grisso, after 45 years of academic service, have finally taken the time to publish thoughtful reflections on developing the truly significant interface between psychology and the law, not to mention becoming involved within the APA governance. In contrast, Mike Sullivan has been actively engaged in volunteering to serve his local community’s senior citizen population – meals on wheels; while Rod has become an accomplished author of fiction novels. Our most recent audience requests have included expanding our presentations to explore the unique challenges of increasing physical disabilities, as well as the journeys of colleagues who grew up in socially disadvantaged environments, often being the first in their families to graduate from high school, let alone obtain their doctorates. A difficult challenge in the traditional 50 minute convention format. We have no doubt that we have been surfing a wave that will become of increasing personal interest to a growing number of colleagues.
From a policy perspective, there has long been concern regarding mental health issues facing our nation’s elderly. President Carter’s Commission on Mental Health Report (1978): “At the other end of the age spectrum, the 23 million Americans over the age of sixty-five – one third of whom are below the official poverty line – constitute another large segment of the population underserved by our current mental health care system. The prevalence of mental illness and emotional distress is higher among those over age sixty-five than in the general population. Up to 25 percent of older persons have been estimated to have significant mental health problems….” The First Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health (1999): “Mental health and mental illness are dynamic, ever-changing phenomena…. Stressful life events, such as declining health and/or the loss of mates, family members, or friends often increase with age…. Disability due to mental illness in individuals over 65 years old will become a major public health problem in the near future because of demographic changes.” We rhetorically ask: Should one assume that because many years ago we chose to study and/or embrace the profession of psychology, we should expect to be exempt from these national trends? Alternatively, has psychology collectively become engaged in addressing the projected behavioral and mental health needs of our nation’s elderly? Or, as Mike raises, addressing the ultimate meaning-of-life issues that retirement raises? Aloha,
Pat DeLeon, former APA President – Division One – August, 2018
