1. RETIREMENT – FOR SOME
2015 marks the 80th
anniversaryof the Social SecurityAct.Buttoday,as baby boomerscharge overthe
finishline –turning65 and noweligibleforSocial SecurityandMedicare,alotof themare havingto
continue towork. Savingfor the nesteggthat insurance companies, financialplanners andactive adult
communitydevelopersconstantlyremindusisnecessaryforretirement,hasnotbeenpossibleformany
workingAmericanswhohave hadtouse most of theirearnings tocover theirdailyexpenses.Any
savingstheyhave beenable tosetaside have beendevotedtobeingable topayfortheirchildren’s
education.The highcostof healthcare has alsotakena significantbite outof anyfundsthatmighthave
beensavedforthe goldendreamsof retirementpromisedinthe endlessadsof companieshopingto
scoopup those retirementsavings.
The inequityof opportunityforagoldenretirement,inspite of Social SecurityandMedicare,isnotonly
an economicinequitybutalsoa psychological andspiritual one.The late ErikEricksoninhisStagesof
PersonalityDevelopmentwrote thatthe last,the eighthstage of personalitydevelopment,isthe stage
of IntegrityorDespair.He saidthat itwas the time whenhumansreview theirlivesanddetermine
whethertheyhave beenmeaningful accordingtotheirpersonal values,or whethertheirliveshave been
misdirectedorwasted,accordingtotheirownstandards. The importance of thistime of reckoningand
seekingtoendone’slife inasmeaningful awayas possible hasbeenrecognizedbyorganizations
committedtocreatingnewoptionsand possibilitiesforretirees,suchasEncore in California.Butalotof
these possibilitiesassume thatone isable toretire andthenpursue activitiesto“give back,”“make a
difference,”and“buildalegacy.” Itis muchharder forthose whomust continue toworkto take time
for reflectionontheirlivesandtoseeksimilaropportunities.Butitisessential thatopportunitiesfor
self-reflectionand newpossibilitiesbe available forthemaswell.All have acquiredvaluable skillsand
experience thatcanbe utilized,if theychoose, innew andmore satisfyingwork.Programsand
resourcesare neededtoprovide counselingandinformationaboutnew optionsforthemthatare
designedaroundthe realitiesof theirworkinglives.Hopefully,the additionof Social Securityfundsand
Medicare will ease the stressesintheirlivesandgive themalittle more latitudetopursue other
possibilities.
Social Securitywhenitwasinstituted bythe Social SecurityActin1935, wasintendedtoprovide relief
fromemploymentandthe workplace,andgive retireesachance to spendmore time withfamilyand
friendsatthe endof theirlives. Atthattime the life expectancyof bothmenandwomenof all raceswas
61.7 years.In 2010, itwas 78.7, and itcontinuestogrow everyyearwithnew medical andtechnological
discoveries.Todaythe yearspastage 65 continue tolengthen formost, andwiththe blessingof these
additional years comesthe opportunityforpeopletouse theirgifts,talents,skillsandexperience todo
whateverismostmeaningfultothem. Asin1935, time tobe withfamilyandfriends ismore important
and all feel the needtoslowthe pace of theirlives. Continuedornew work opportunities must
accommodate the changingneedsandutilize the capacitiesof the largest,besteducatedandmostfit
populationtoeverreachthe age of 65 in thiscountry – all of them-- not justthose whohave beenable
to save for the goldenversionof retirementenvisionedbyinsurance companies,financialplannersand
active communitydevelopers. Thisshouldbe the new social contractthat we make onthe 80th
anniversaryof the Social SecurityAct.