Promoting Individuals and Family Health During Retirement

Abstract

(41st Biennial Convention) BACKGROUND: "Moving into retirement" is one of transition life moments that have to be adequately prepared (Meleis, 2010). Studying the impact of this transition on the lives of individuals and their families will contribute to understand how this event can jeopardize ageing and can provide a more in-depth knowledge of what should actually be caring for individuals and families in the period of "moving into retirement". OBJECTIVE: To understand the experiences of individuals and their families during the transition process of "moving into retirement". METHOD: Two stages study was developed. First, quantitative in nature, a questionnaire was applied to 432 individuals who had been retired for less than five years. Second, qualitative in nature, 14 families of individuals who had experienced changes and/or difficulties in the first stage of this study were interviewed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The social and demographic characteristics, the reasons for retirement and the expectations about "moving into retirement" influenced how individuals experienced this transition. The main changes and/or difficulties perceived by individuals in this transition were adaptation to changes routines(26.5%), difficulty in occupying time(14.7%) and decreased economic(14.0%). Families were their main source of support(71.5%) to cope with these changes. As with individuals, families also perceived the change related to this transition and expressed it in a duality of meanings which were identified with perceptions of gain and loss in their lives. The meanings relearning how to "act", "feel" and "be" were used to express the process of adaptation of these individuals. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Health care provision in the period of "moving into retirement" should follow a very particular model of intervention that combines not only the unique characteristics of individuals and families who are the main actors in this life event, but also the specificity of the transformations brought about by this transition experience.