Working Longer: Choice, Need, and the Reality Behind the Headlines
This morning I was on BBC Bristol talking about the plan to raise the state pension age to 67 and the push to keep more people in work beyond 55 and 65. The official argument is familiar: longer working lives will boost the economy and help individuals build bigger pension pots. The Institute for Fiscal […]
How People Step Into Later Life
People step into later life in different ways When paid work ends or loosens its grip, something opens up. Not always freedom. Sometimes uncertainty. Sometimes relief. Sometimes boredom. We often talk about “retirement” as if it’s one experience, but in reality people step into later life in very different ways. Not better or worse, just […]
The Harsh Reality of Ageing in Construction Work
This week I came across an article urging the construction industry to retain older workers as the solution to labour shortages. On the surface it sounded sensible, but it made me stop in my tracks. From years of research and conversations with people in later life, I know the reality is far tougher. Here’s my […]
Beyond ‘Semi-Retired’: What Do We Call Later Life?
There comes a point where we want to pause or to take a step back. No longer a ‘full on’ career focus, but definitely not checking out. So, what are we? Semi-retired? But that sounds a bit dull. It sounds like we’ve downshifted into a holding pattern. Neither working nor fully retired, just hovering somewhere […]
Today, retirement is about identity, purpose, and possibilities, not just age
When it comes to retirement, the old rules don’t always apply. Today, I’m exploring why a more flexible, personal approach can help us navigate this important life transition with greater purpose and clarity. Rethinking the Traditional Retirement Timeline Retirement is changing. It’s no longer just about hitting 66 or 67 and stepping away from work […]
Rethinking Later Life Living: Could University-Based Communities Work in the UK?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we might reimagine where, and how, we live in later life. A recent article I read sparked this reflection: could university-based retirement communities (UBRCs), which are becoming popular in the U.S., offer something similar here in the UK? Or do we need to think differently, finding more […]
University-Based Retirement Communities: A New Retirement Model?
University-based retirement communities (UBRCs) are gaining popularity, offering an alternative to traditional retirement living. While this model is expanding in the U.S., could university-based retirement communities work in the UK? Could they provide intellectual stimulation, intergenerational engagement, and a sense of purpose in later life? Or are there better, more inclusive ways to achieve these […]
Rethinking the “Age Wave”: Embracing the Opportunities of a Longer Life
The way we talk about ageing matters. Describing demographic change as an “age wave” or worse, a “retirement tsunami”, fuels a fear-based narrative that frames longer lives as a crisis rather than an evolution. As a 67-year-old psychologist and later-life coach with a doctorate in meaningful ageing, I see this shift not as a disaster […]
Rethinking Life Expectancy: Beyond the Oversimplified Narrative
Introduction The claim that life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century is widely cited in media, policy discussions, and public discourse. While technically accurate, this statistic is misleading without proper context. As a researcher who obtained my PhD at 64, specialising in retirement adjustment and meaningful ageing, I have watched this narrative […]
Changing Gears: Navigating Retirement for Athletes and Executives
When thinking about retirement we think about people at the end of their main working lives, usually in their 60s. We can forget about athletes, and how they retire much earlier. There’s been much in the press on Andy Murray and how he may not be fit for Wimbledon and/or The Olympics and what will […]