The high road to retirement

When a career comes to an end, there’s still another life ahead. Liz Clarke spoke to someone who is determined to make those on the journey to retirement less anxious

THE word retirement is not always the choicest word in the English dictionary, especially for those who have to give up their careers after years of service.

“It’s not a nice word,” says 61-year-old Kloof-based industrial psychologist Beverley Black, “simply because most companies and organisations don’t recognise the fact that it is something they need to think about long in advance of a person retiring.”

Young people, she says, are generally in charge of human resources departments and retirement is not an issue that concerns them unduly.

“And though a pre-retirement mentoring programme might be beneficial to the retiree, there is no financial gain as that person’s worth is gone on the day of retirement.”

Picture the usual retirement scenario, she says. “You turn 65 and before your birthday celebrations are over an office get-together has been organised, somebody makes a speech, and that’s it, you’re gone. Your parking has been given to somebody else, your security card has been taken back and your office door is locked. It’s not a nice feeling.”

After many years of counselling those who have gone through this process and not coped well with the sudden change in lifestyle Black and her husband, Malcolm, an engineer with a theology degree, were persuaded by friends and colleagues to go a step further, by conducting workshops and counselling sessions in various parts of the country, many in KZN.

“I realised that this was not an isolated issue and that depression, anxiety and all the negative things that often go with retiring needed to be addressed.

“Yes, there is a business incentive but more than that, there is a belief in me that if you can harness the strengths and wisdom of those who have been forced to retire because of the cut-off age for employment, the world would be a far better place.

“Everyone needs to feel valued, at whatever age. That is what being human is about.”

Her own experiences, she says, have been part of this learning curve and the driving force behind a new initiative, which she calls “Potential Unlimited”.

“I remember how a relative reacted to retirement. From being a positive and dynamic businessman, very much the leader, it was almost as though the wind had been taken out of his sails.

“He became ill and depressed. It should not have been like that because he still had so much to give.”

It doesn’t need an actuary to tell you that people are living longer and healthier lives. The Economist video on Black’s web page illustrates that populations by age have changed from a pyramid to a beehive pattern and are now becoming almost a straight column.

“What it tells you,” explains Black, “is that there is not much population difference between the age groups, from young to old, and that between now and 2060 the number of 60- to 79-year-olds will have doubled to 850million.”

She believes that these cold statistics, though fascinating, tell a worrying story.

“When you think about it, a fit and healthy person leaving work at age 65 still has two or three decades left to lead a full life.

“That is why the emotional fall of retirement or retrenchment has to be recognised and managed, first by industry and second by people who are trained to mentor those who have had to leave their jobs for one reason or another.”

In many countries, she points out, there is no strict cut-off age.

“Or if there is, 70 seems to be the new norm. I think it is something we need to think about in this country when experience, skills and expertise are in such demand.”

Personal relationships, time management, interests and achievable goals are, she says, part of the retirement story.

“It doesn’t need much imagination to picture the dayafter scene of a new retiree, who for the first time in possibly 40 years, is spending the first Monday at home. Lunch with your partner might be fun, or joining the library, or watching your favourite show on Catch-up, but then what? The conversations will soon run out.”

It’s the “then what” that interests her.

“Look, women are much better than men at coping with this scenario because they generally have many more interests, but men, sadly, are usually lost and alone. But you know what? There is no age limit to dreams. The potential for greatness is always there. It just takes a bit of searching.”

For workshop details, call 0317656221 or visit www. potentialunlimited.co.za

lizclarke4@gmail.com