Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 12(3), September 2008, pp.239-252.
Publisher:
Sage
Place of publication:
London
... of service-users with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland is an ageing population. Significant ongoing demands for new retirement-related intellectual disability services and enhancement of existing services are indicated. It is unknown how to support the development of a retirement policy to meet this growing need. The findings of this survey study indicate that there is, in general, recognition among Ireland's service providers of the need for retirement options for this population, although little attention has been directed towards formalizing these services through policy-making. There are few retirement policies in place, limiting the implementation of comprehensive services to meet the changing needs of ageing adults with an intellectual disability.
The purpose of this study was to describe the pre-retirement and related services offered to service-users with intellectual disability in Ireland. Increasing numbers of service-users with an intellectual disability are living into older adulthood, creating important challenges for services providers. The National Intellectual Disability Database 2007 (NIDD) suggests that the population of service-users with an intellectual disability in the Republic of Ireland is an ageing population. Significant ongoing demands for new retirement-related intellectual disability services and enhancement of existing services are indicated. It is unknown how to support the development of a retirement policy to meet this growing need. The findings of this survey study indicate that there is, in general, recognition among Ireland's service providers of the need for retirement options for this population, although little attention has been directed towards formalizing these services through policy-making. There are few retirement policies in place, limiting the implementation of comprehensive services to meet the changing needs of ageing adults with an intellectual disability.
Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, 24(2), October 2008, pp.191-198.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Path-breaking reform measures have been launched recently to reform the retirement protection systems in both Hong Kong and urban China. In 2000, the Hong Kong government introduced the first compulsory retirement saving scheme intended to protect the entire workforce-the Mandatory Provident Fund. Since the early 1980s, the Chinese government has been attempting to develop a multi-pillar pension
Path-breaking reform measures have been launched recently to reform the retirement protection systems in both Hong Kong and urban China. In 2000, the Hong Kong government introduced the first compulsory retirement saving scheme intended to protect the entire workforce-the Mandatory Provident Fund. Since the early 1980s, the Chinese government has been attempting to develop a multi-pillar pension system to replace its previous pension system dominated by the State-owned Enterprises in urban China. This paper is intended to show that, despite these measures, the concept of path dependence has relevance to these reforms in Hong Kong and urban China. To meet this objective, the article discusses some significant similarities and differences of the causes, key features of the reforms in these two locations, and how these differences are related to the two governments' attempts to address their earlier ways of providing welfare for retirees.
Ageing and Society, 28(6), August 2008, pp.831-846.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
... of 378 recently retired individuals. It explored the frequency of post-retirement innovation in people's leisure repertoires, the association between innovation and retirees' life satisfaction, and factors in the differing life satisfaction of innovators and non-innovators. The results indicate that the inclination toward innovation significantly associated with the respondents' work and retirement
A central theme of "innovation theory", which the author and a colleague have proposed and which is concerned with the triggers, types and benefits of innovation in later life, is that adding brand-new leisure activities after retiring from work enhances post-retirement wellbeing. The study reported here aimed to examine this proposition using quantitative data from a nationwide sample in Israel of 378 recently retired individuals. It explored the frequency of post-retirement innovation in people's leisure repertoires, the association between innovation and retirees' life satisfaction, and factors in the differing life satisfaction of innovators and non-innovators. The results indicate that the inclination toward innovation significantly associated with the respondents' work and retirement histories, as well as with their self-rated health and world region of origin. Innovators had significantly higher life satisfaction than non-innovators, but this difference could not be explained by the number of new activities. In addition, socio-demographic differences failed to explain innovators' wellbeing. While some support for innovation theory was provided, further research is required to explore the dynamics by which innovation at older ages contributes to retirees' wellbeing.
Subject terms:
leisure activities, life events, quality of life, retirement;
Public attention directed toward the civic engagement of retired Americans has increased considerably. This research aimed to define civic engagement as a retirement role and differentiate individuals who met this role definition from other retirees. Retirees who met the definition of civic engagement were identified from a sample of 683 retired older adults living in a rural Midwestern state retirees were similar across 24 variables. This group of engaged retirees differed from the other groups by gender, education level, and health status; retirement motives and planning efforts; primary retirement activities; and attitudes about volunteering and returning to work. This research supported the contention that civic engagement could be defined as a formal retirement role, as engaged retirees differ significantly from those who volunteer less, work in noncivic roles, or do neither. Further, it was resolved that associating the act of volunteering, in itself, with civic engagement may no longer be appropriate for retired older adults. The definition of civic engagement as a retirement role should also include those individuals who return to work in organizations that pursue specific civic
Public attention directed toward the civic engagement of retired Americans has increased considerably. This research aimed to define civic engagement as a retirement role and differentiate individuals who met this role definition from other retirees. Retirees who met the definition of civic engagement were identified from a sample of 683 retired older adults living in a rural Midwestern state in the USA. Using a multinomial logistic regression analysis, this group of engaged retirees were contrasted to three other groups of retirees: (a) those who were neither working nor volunteering, (b) those who had returned to work in part-time or seasonal occupations, and (c) those who volunteered for fewer than 5 hours each week. The analyses indicated that individuals assigned to the group of engaged retirees were similar across 24 variables. This group of engaged retirees differed from the other groups by gender, education level, and health status; retirement motives and planning efforts; primary retirement activities; and attitudes about volunteering and returning to work. This research supported the contention that civic engagement could be defined as a formal retirement role, as engaged retirees differ significantly from those who volunteer less, work in noncivic roles, or do neither. Further, it was resolved that associating the act of volunteering, in itself, with civic engagement may no longer be appropriate for retired older adults. The definition of civic engagement as a retirement role should also include those individuals who return to work in organizations that pursue specific civic activities.
... Health and Retirement Study in the US, which is a nationally representative panel targeting households containing persons aged 53 to 63 years at baseline. Event-history techniques are used to examine the link between reported mobility intentions at baseline and mobility outcomes across the study period, net of relevant controls. Separate household-level analyses were conducted for couple and noncouple of several key variables depends on the type of move under consideration. The ability to identify potential "retirement migrants" may be of practical importance for state and local government officials as well as developers interested in recruiting or retaining young-old residents. The study offers insight on the interpretation of stated mobility intentions. Moreover, consistent with early theoretical work
Although migration decision making is central to understanding later-life migration, the critical step between migration intentions and mobility outcomes has received only limited empirical attention. The authors discuss two questions: How often are intended moves actuated? What factors condition the likelihood that mobility intentions will be actuated? Data were employed from the 1994-2002 Health and Retirement Study in the US, which is a nationally representative panel targeting households containing persons aged 53 to 63 years at baseline. Event-history techniques are used to examine the link between reported mobility intentions at baseline and mobility outcomes across the study period, net of relevant controls. Separate household-level analyses were conducted for couple and noncouple households and recognize three types of moves: local, family oriented, and nonlocal. Findings confirm the utility of mobility expectations as a predictor of future mobility. More importantly, results highlight the complex nature of later-life mobility. The actuation of mobility intentions appears to operate differently in couple than in noncouple households. Moreover, the findings suggest that the role of several key variables depends on the type of move under consideration. The ability to identify potential "retirement migrants" may be of practical importance for state and local government officials as well as developers interested in recruiting or retaining young-old residents. The study offers insight on the interpretation of stated mobility intentions. Moreover, consistent with early theoretical work in the field, our analysis suggests that empirical studies must account for heterogeneity among older movers in order to avoid misleading results.
Increasing longevity and falling fertility rates have prompted European policymakers to shift the responsibility for retirement funding to individuals. Governments, independently of their political ideologies, are committed to sustainable pension systems by encouraging private saving for retirement. This article uses a quantitative approach to investigate individual saving behaviour in Italy and in the UK and present evidence of the factors determining saving for retirement in the two countries. It questions whether differences in pension policies and attitudes are accentuated or lessened by common demographic and social factors and examine the possibility of cross-national saving policies. The analysis suggests that cohorts identified by homogeneous demographic features present converging perceptions across both countries, by acknowledging the need to save for retirement and the insecurity of future state pensions. The findings also show that English respondents make use of private saving for their retirement significantly more than their Italian counterparts.
Increasing longevity and falling fertility rates have prompted European policymakers to shift the responsibility for retirement funding to individuals. Governments, independently of their political ideologies, are committed to sustainable pension systems by encouraging private saving for retirement. This article uses a quantitative approach to investigate individual saving behaviour in Italy and in the UK and present evidence of the factors determining saving for retirement in the two countries. It questions whether differences in pension policies and attitudes are accentuated or lessened by common demographic and social factors and examine the possibility of cross-national saving policies. The analysis suggests that cohorts identified by homogeneous demographic features present converging perceptions across both countries, by acknowledging the need to save for retirement and the insecurity of future state pensions. The findings also show that English respondents make use of private saving for their retirement significantly more than their Italian counterparts.
Social Science and Medicine, 66(4), February 2008, pp.849-861.
Publisher:
Elsevier
Few studies have specifically examined trajectories of functional health status or estimated the extent to which they are influenced by childhood health and socioeconomic conditions. This study examines how circumstances associated with early life may shape the level and progression of functional limitations among adults at or near retirement. Employing data from the US Health and Retirement
Few studies have specifically examined trajectories of functional health status or estimated the extent to which they are influenced by childhood health and socioeconomic conditions. This study examines how circumstances associated with early life may shape the level and progression of functional limitations among adults at or near retirement. Employing data from the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS), it estimates latent growth curve models (LGM) of functional limitation. The results demonstrate that functional health trajectories in old age continue to be shaped by childhood health and socioeconomic circumstances. Poor childhood health and disadvantaged social origins are associated with both more functional limitations at baseline and higher rates of increase over time. This association is net of baseline adult chronic disease and socioeconomic status. While both childhood and adult factors influence the baseline level of functional limitation, only childhood health and socioeconomic status are associated with the rate of change in limitations over time.
Subject terms:
retirement, socioeconomic groups, child development, health needs;
This book describes the services available to older people and helps relatives identify the practicalities, such as what is available, how to arrange it, how to pay for it and where to get more information. It discusses the options and assessment, staying at home and funding care there, choosing housing, buying or renting, leases and tenancy agreements, finding and funding a care home and negotiating a fair contract.
This book describes the services available to older people and helps relatives identify the practicalities, such as what is available, how to arrange it, how to pay for it and where to get more information. It discusses the options and assessment, staying at home and funding care there, choosing housing, buying or renting, leases and tenancy agreements, finding and funding a care home and negotiating a fair contract.
Subject terms:
housing, older people, retirement, care homes, financing;
This article draws on a research project exploring changes in consumption and identity affecting first wave baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1954). The paper reviews some of the key social and demographic changes affecting this cohort, highlighting a mixture of continuities and discontinuities over previous cohorts. The article concludes with an assessment of the value of sociological research for furthering understanding of the baby-boomer generation. It draws on data from the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA), the British Social Attitudes Survey, and a sample of 150 people born between 1945-1954 and living in south Manchester.
This article draws on a research project exploring changes in consumption and identity affecting first wave baby boomers (those born between 1945 and 1954). The paper reviews some of the key social and demographic changes affecting this cohort, highlighting a mixture of continuities and discontinuities over previous cohorts. The article concludes with an assessment of the value of sociological research for furthering understanding of the baby-boomer generation. It draws on data from the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA), the British Social Attitudes Survey, and a sample of 150 people born between 1945-1954 and living in south Manchester.
This report presents findings from in-depth research with people with defined-contribution (DC) pensions at or around the point they are making decisions about retirement and annuitising their pension fund. It covers their understanding and perceptions of the annuitisation process and focuses, in particular, on the information they received and used.
This report presents findings from in-depth research with people with defined-contribution (DC) pensions at or around the point they are making decisions about retirement and annuitising their pension fund. It covers their understanding and perceptions of the annuitisation process and focuses, in particular, on the information they received and used.
Subject terms:
information needs, pensions, qualitative research, retirement, decision making;