Coping with change in retirement

Retirement is a poorly understood life event which often signals the onset of old age. Adjustment may be difficult for many reasons, but there is little empirical support for the view that retirement results in premature physical and/or psychological deterioration. Flexible individuals who have derived satisfaction from many sources throughout life will do best in retirement. People who are rigid and for whom work provides an identity may be expected to experience difficulties. A knowledge of crisis theory and of stages in the process of retirement may be helpful in dealing with increasing numbers of older patients.