Abstract
This study examines the various factors that influence life satisfaction among seniors aged 60 to 90. Since the inception of social gerontology, investigating the variables that affect purpose and life satisfaction in older people has been a mainstay, and it remains an essential topic in aging studies. These elements are both environmental and personal; personal issues include one’s state of health, financial level, and sense of loss of autonomy, such as losing one’s job.
All the components mentioned above interact; therefore, it is crucial to examine their interrelationship. The impact of financial independence and dependency on the well-being and sense of fulfillment in the lives of seniors is examined. Changes in society, spirituality, and faith are examined in relation to the concepts of friendship, loneliness, and social class affiliation. Three individuals were interviewed for the study: a male and two women, ages 74, 79, and 90. The most significant sources of meaning were relationships with family and a feeling of connection to a family structure, friendships, financial security, physical health, and employment, which provides a sense of purpose, and spirituality.
This study aimed to investigate and identify variables that affect the happiness of older adults in their post-retirement life. Retirement and aging are inevitable phases of life for people. The objective was to explore further the relationships between living standards, loneliness, self-care skills, general health, physical activity engagement, financial resources, and life satisfaction. The paper concludes that achieving and maintaining happiness in life after retirement or in old age is attainable. For older people to consider choices that would boost life pleasure and purpose during their retirement years, it is necessary to provide them with knowledge of these issues.
Introduction
Older adults who are unable to conduct daily tasks independently may assess life satisfaction differently from those who can still care for themselves. Having to cope with a diminished capacity for self-care after being active and independent, requiring assistance with everyday activities, changes how one views the factors contributing to life’s pleasures. This is significant in nursing and healthcare, especially in South Africa, where, like several other nations, there is an aging population, and the normal life expectancy appears to be increasing. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding such characteristics in those with abridged self-care competence. In the coming years, the percentage of people aged 60 to 90 is expected to rise, placing additional pressure on the healthcare system.
Life satisfaction is a general concept that refers to one’s overall life experience rather than focusing on specific aspects. It can be challenging to distinguish between life satisfaction and quality, and the terms are frequently used interchangeably. Happiness ratings capture more ephemeral and fleeting affective states. In contrast, life fulfillment and confidence assessments measure additional durable and even perceptions, as per Ruggeri (Ruggeri et al., 2020). They also view life gratification as an indicator of overall well-being and quality of life. Additionally, they claim that studies on life satisfaction have shifted from concentrating on pathology to adapting to a standard of living, which supports the notion that the two notions have a close relationship.
Since health-related quality of life primarily considers health-related factors, the difference between it and well-being is more apparent. When examining lay definitions of standard of living among individuals 60 and older, Chizari identified several essential factors: communal contacts, health, events, family, and loss of family members (Chizari et al., 2020). These factors may also be pertinent when examining life fulfillment among older individuals with decreased ability to execute daily roles. There is a lack of information regarding the causes of low life fulfillment in older adults with diminished capacity for self-care, even though this information is crucial for healthcare to better meet their needs and consider their perspectives. Prior studies have focused on discrete issues, such as discomfort related to life satisfaction between older and younger individuals among those with decreased capacity for self-care.
Some individuals are happier as they become older, while others are depressed. Earlier studies on the well-being of older individuals tended to generalize the emotions, well-being, and life satisfaction of elderly retirees. Three retirees were given a platform to discuss their life stories as part of this project. People will be able to get firsthand information about their happiness and quality of life from this.
This study used a social constructionist conceptual model and a qualitative research methodology. The theoretical component includes a review of relevant literature, a discussion of an ontological attitude, an epistemological stance, and a description of the study techniques employed in this study. The theoretical section’s language is far more formal because it represents the scientific nature of the subject matter.
This article’s primary goal is to examine the life contentment of older adults. In doing so, keep two key points in mind: first, scholars should employ a life-course perspective when analyzing and understanding trends in life satisfaction among older adults. A proper understanding and concept of the degrees and variations in life satisfaction among them can only be achieved by examining differences in life satisfaction across various stages. A comprehensive evaluation is also beneficial, as it can reveal the impact that being a member of a particular group may have on life satisfaction. To identify pure group effects and the impact of aging on life satisfaction, a novel technique is employed.
Methodology
Research methodology may incorporate a particular tool, such as a self-completion questionnaire, a scheduled interview schedule, or participant observation, in which the researcher observes and listens to others. According to Jansen and Warren, research methodology is merely a means of data collection (Jansen & Warren, 2020). The methodology outlines how scientists can examine something they think is knowable. For instance, if a researcher believes that the subject under study consists of a constant and invariable physical reality, then they can adopt a methodological approach that relies on controlling and manipulating reality while also taking an objective and detached philosophical stance towards that reality.
The purpose of this type of study is to accurately describe the rules and systems that govern social behavior. This approach can be recognized as a positivist one. Different authors say that researchers may adopt an intersubjective or interpersonal epistemological stance toward the reality being studied.
The researcher should also employ methodologies such as interviewing or direct observation that rely on a personal connection between the researcher and the subject. This is typical of the interpretivist paradigm, which seeks to explain the arbitrary motivations and connotations that underlie social behavior. It is a technique for gathering data from people, allowing conclusions to be drawn. As a result, a relationship is established between the researcher and the respondents, enabling the investigation’s findings to be genuine. The researcher will employ a qualitative methodology in this investigation.
Qualitative researchers gather information in the form of spoken or written words and then analyze it by separating it into themes. According to Rogers, qualitative methods enable the researcher to examine particular issues in depth, with candor and description, as they recognize and attempt to comprehend the categories of data that emerge from the analysis (Rogers, 2018). This is how qualitative methods differ from quantitative methods. Comparatively, quantitative methods begin with detailed categories, typically expressed in defined quantitative procedures, and then use this data to draw extensive, general conclusions.
Because the researcher aimed to capture the individual feelings of elderly retirees between the ages of 60 and 90, a qualitative research methodology was employed in this study. The researcher provided the participant with an open, independent, and accessible environment, allowing them to express their experiences openly. In agreement, Fletcher points out that the emphasis on words rather than quantification in the collection and processing of data is typical of qualitative research (Fletcher-Brown, 2019). It is critical to remember that every word and piece of body language a respondent uses during an interview could imply something. Because any behavior, no matter how small, could have a profound meaning to the study’s respondents, the researcher was alert to any verbal or non-verbal cues from the participants.
Research Design
A research design is a strategic initiative that serves as a bridge between the study questions and the implementation of the study. However, Robinson claims that a research design offers an outline for data gathering and examination (Robinson, 2017). Consequently, a study design directs the researcher during data collection and analysis. The research method is worthless if an improper design is used since it makes it difficult to answer the research question(s).
A case study methodology was employed in this investigation. According to Robinson, the fundamental case study comprises a thorough analysis of a particular instance (Robinson, 2017). In this study, the researcher was interested in examining the circumstances of three individuals on various platforms to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. The three individuals are elderly retirees, aged between 60 and 90, from diverse backgrounds. These people should have been working for a living before retiring. There will be differences in terms of ethnicity and gender.
Sampling Procedure
Using a generic purpose sampling method, the researcher selected three retired seniors aged 60 to 90. While employing a general purposive sample strategy, the researcher develops criteria for selecting cases or situations (Treacy, 2022). The selection criteria should consider the instances required to answer the research objectives.
After identifying suitable cases, the researcher selected a sample from the instances found in these cases. The researcher took a sample of elderly retirees, ranging in age from 70 to 90. The researcher sought elderly, retired individuals from various ethnic and gender groupings, selecting retirees between the ages of 60 and 90 who are active members of their communities in various fields, including sports, religion, politics, business, and more.
Ethics
The researcher adhered to the tenets of ethical research while conducting this study. In terms of explicit consent, the scientific community strongly believes that subjects have the right to know the purpose, risks, and potential repercussions of any study in which they will participate, which means that participants must first freely consent to participate without being subjected to any psychosocial coercion. This consent must be based on complete and honest disclosure of all relevant facts. In this study, the researcher solicited the cooperation of retirees aged 60-90, explaining that the interviews were conducted as part of the requirements for earning a master’s degree.
The researcher also disclosed to elderly retirees his affiliation with a South African university. Regarding study ethics, autonomy and respect for human dignity are guiding principles (Braun et al., 2020). There are several unethical behaviors to avoid, including injury to participants, which can take many forms.
Harm can take many forms, including physical harm to participants’ development, self-esteem loss, stress, and inciting subjects to commit deplorable crimes (Walen, 2020). The researcher must also be vigilant for potential fraud. According to Walen, deceit is the purposeful misrepresentation of the study’s nature and objectives.
The researcher made it very clear to the respondents that the test was conducted as part of their master’s degree program and that their names would be kept anonymous if the results were to be published. However, the respondent and the researcher would consent to have their names published if the person felt safe doing so. The researcher took care to avoid injuring elderly retirees during the conduct of this study. He achieved this by being accommodating, laid-back, honest, and truthful. Since this study aimed to help these elderly retirees improve their lives so that they could live fulfilling retirements, even if this was challenging to evaluate, the researcher avoided passing judgment on these individuals.
Privacy and Confidentiality
Every researcher is responsible for defending and upholding the participants’ right to privacy. The data shared by the two parties, as a result, must be kept private. The printing of any information will be done in a moral and responsible manner.
Additionally, printed materials must not include participants’ real names. Participants are free to decline to answer any questions they feel violate their privacy, and the researcher is not allowed to compel them. Participants in this study were informed of the significance of reading and comprehending the consent forms, that participation was optional, and that there would be no tangible benefits from doing so.
In conducting this study, the researcher respected the privacy and rights of elderly retirees. According to the British Sociological Association, covert procedures are illegal and may violate the privacy of the people being examined (“Statement of Ethical Practice,” 2017). At all times, the researcher has to ensure that the interviewees are comfortable with the depth and breadth of the inquiry. The researcher aims to provide respondents with as much information as possible about the interview format.
The researcher verbally agreed with each participant, before the commencement of the study, that their comfort level at any point in the interview would be treated with strict confidentiality. More specifically, the researcher informed the participants that they could choose whether to answer specific questions or not, and that he would uphold ethical principles in his interactions with them. The researcher was conscious that how he spoke and what he said would affect these elderly retirees; therefore, he had to be alert during the interview so as not to be affected by them in terms of the questions he asked or the answers they provided.
Validity and Reliability
Validity and reliability are prerequisites for any scientific investigation; however, it is vital to remember that these ideas differ for qualitative and quantitative studies. The validity and reliability of the study’s qualitative research were its primary concerns. Both qualitative and quantitative researchers define measurement validity as the extent to which a measure achieves its goals. This includes the fact that the tool should be usable for the specific purpose for which it was intended and that the measure should offer some degree of correlation between the theoretical and practical definitions of the construct.
When dealing with variables that can be controlled and removed, which pose a danger to validity, quantitative researchers frequently choose their battles carefully. While denying that such challenges to validity can or should be eliminated, qualitative researchers contend that these unwanted characteristics frequently supplement the study by providing it with a context. Social constructionists and qualitative researchers are interested in these contextual conditions. These aggravating factors may influence the study’s body language or verbal errors.
Reliability in a qualitative study refers to the extent to which the researcher’s observations of the information generated can be trusted. Researchers adopting an analytical and social constructionist viewpoint do not presume to look into an immutable reality. Hence, they do not anticipate consistently obtaining the same findings. The reliability of the findings is crucial in qualitative research. Providing three elderly individuals who may have retired from productive jobs the opportunity to share their experiences is therefore considered reliable for this study.
This investigation guaranteed dependability as researchers must employ an audit strategy. This audit strategy requires ensuring that complete and easily accessible accounts are maintained at all phases of the study, including problem formulation, respondent selection, field notes, interview transcripts, and data analysis decisions. To ensure that monitoring is not hampered, the researcher maintained all the records related to this study.
Results
Participant A
Prudence, identified as participant A, is a 79-year-old “retired” Afrikaans and English teacher. She is a widowed, white South African with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Natal. She was born and raised in Natal, but when her husband, a mechanical engineer, got a job at a paper company in Braamfontein, she relocated to Johannesburg in her twenties.
Family Connection
Participant A said she was an English and Afrikaans teacher who is now “retired. Her father’s abrupt death from a heart attack drastically altered her world. After her father passed away unexpectedly when she was only ten years old, her mother enrolled her in boarding school full-time. She had little support growing up as an only child, and the tragedy of her father’s unexpected death influenced many of her choices and outlooks in later life.
This participant was married to Hollander, who had three children with her and died at age 57 from a brain aneurysm. She has a boy and a girl, both 45 years old, and a 50-year-old son, all of whom are twins. Although her daughter has remarried, all three of her children are divorced.
She has three grandchildren, including a 15-year-old granddaughter from her daughter, who resides with two grandchildren from her younger son, who are eight years old. Additionally, she has a five-year-old granddaughter who resides in Natal. She says that her social connection results from spending time with her oldest son and daughter and picking up her granddaughter from school once a week.
Friendships
Participant A says that as a child, she could walk home from her private school, play with her friends safely in the afternoons, and attend a nearby private school. However, she says that she was taught the value of independence and self-reliance at a young age and experienced severe exclusion from her peers due to her mother’s widowhood. There were no other kids in this participant’s class besides one girl whose parents were divorced.
Prudence acknowledges that currently, she does not have many close friends. She meets a group of six women of a similar age once a month for “book club,” but she only interacts socially with one of them. This participant admits that, due to safety concerns, she finds it challenging to meet new people at her age and that living in Johannesburg as a woman can be very isolating. This participant says she would like to make new pals, both male and female, with whom she could get coffee during the workweek.
Financial Stability
Participant A claims that her earning potential in the teaching profession was constrained. She claims that the years after retirement have been financially challenging. She continues to receive the same pension she had many years ago. Due to the significant increase in the cost of living, she relies on her children for any financial assistance they may provide. Except for her gambling habit, she makes an effort to live frugally and, for the most part, does not believe that her limited financial resources have diminished the quality of her retirement.
Health Status
This participant claims that she became ill with the Coronavirus Delta form in 2020 and came dangerously close to dying. She reveals that she has had short-term memory loss and a distinct loss of her sense of taste since contracting the virus. She has generally been healthy and fit during her retirement years. She claims to dislike working out and that when they wants to do so, “she lies down till it passes over.” She does not participate in sports teams, but she attempts to stay active by keeping busy and completing household chores. Although she considers herself in good physical shape, depression has plagued her since her husband passed away 25 years ago.
She has significantly struggled with insomnia because she has an overactive mind and worries a lot about money and other things. Prudence yearns for a spouse with whom she can discuss her concerns. Although she has access to private healthcare, she dislikes doctors and often skips medical examinations. She regrets the limited coverage of medical insurance, recognizing that paying for medical expenses can be challenging at times.
Work
Participant A identifies herself as an English and Afrikaans teacher who is “retired.” After completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Natal, she started teaching immediately. This participant claims that throughout her career, she taught matric Afrikaans and English at numerous schools. In addition to teaching, she worked as a gardener and bought and sold antiques. She even spent time working in her best friend’s antique business.
Spirituality
This individual claims to have been raised in the Anglican faith and always believed in God. She makes time for prayer, even if she doesn’t attend church often. She has occasionally felt that her confidence in God has wavered over the years due to the loss of friends or difficulties she has faced. In her retirement years, faith has not helped her deal with loss or other adversity; instead, she has developed a much more pragmatic outlook, one of “simply getting on with it.”
Participant B
Hugh, who is identified as participant B, is a retired lawyer in his 90s. The man resides in an apartment in Hyde Park. He resides with his wife, a white South African who holds a law degree from the University of Witwatersrand. He studied law and practiced it for a considerable period before retiring. The interview took place in the participant’s Hyde Park apartment in Johannesburg.
Family Connection
He and his wife have been happily married for 61 years, and their marriage has been prosperous. He has twin daughters who are 45 years old and two sons who are 59 and 57 years old. His sons split their time between Cape Town and Dubai. Down the street where he lives, his twin daughters reside with their partners and two kids. He enjoys spending time with his daughters and two grandchildren and frequently sees them. About his parents and the rest of the family, he kept quiet.
Friendships
According to this participant, he has never had many close friends, and as an only child who was often ill and spent a lot of time in the hospital, he learned to enjoy being alone. Books became his refuge, and he still finds solace in them as an adult. During his high school years, he attended a prominent boarding school in Natal, where he suffered from severe bullying because he was smaller than the other boys and did not like sports. He occasionally referred to his high school years as a “matter of survival,” but he has remained in touch with some of his friends ever since. This participant says he has struggled mightily in his later years of retirement to make new friends.
Despite having a strong affinity for reading, he considers himself an introvert and still longs for interpersonal interactions. He struggled during the lockdown because he felt isolated from the outside world. He considers the time when he could not see his children one of the hardest things he has ever had to go through. He also attributes his increased social isolation to the COVID pandemic. His only social interaction is a weekly meal with his daughters and weekend visits to his grandchildren. Additionally, he enjoys playing bridge online with four other men weekly.
Financial Stability
This participant claims that money was a significant problem for them during their retirement years, and they are aware that their resources will eventually be depleted. A close friend of the family provides his residence, which he does not own. He does not worry about getting older or how many years he has left; instead, he plans to kill himself if his finances run out or he becomes unwell. They have to live simply due to increased living expenses, and his primary concern is that he does not burden his kids.
This participant says he never dreamed of playing golf or cruising around the world, but he wishes he had saved more money for this period of his life. His advice to the next generation is always to be health-conscious and to live in the moment. Additionally, he believes that one should take more time to arrange their finances for their family and remain open-minded about how to enjoy life in their later years.
Health Status
Participant B says his health in his retirement years was tolerable, despite his terrible health struggles as a child. A year after his formal retirement, he underwent a quadruple bypass, and since then, his heart valve has received a few stents. He defines his current state as being healthy and in good physical shape. He walks every day in the gardens of his condo and participates in water aerobics twice a week at the gym. He had trouble sleeping during the COVID-19 phase and claims that the Lockdown Five phase made him melancholy. His mood has improved, and his old sleeping pattern has resumed now that life has returned to normal. Despite believing himself to be quite optimistic, he has always had a propensity for despair. He is appreciative that he can afford to access private health care.
Work
Although this person no longer practices law, he still provides legal services to charitable trusts and non-profit organizations; thus, he does not consider himself “retired.” He participated in volunteer work for his political party and was a member of a neighborhood crime-fighting group. Although he is unpaid, he appreciates the social connection and has always valued the opportunity to volunteer and participate in activities that benefit his community.
Spirituality
This participant states that he was raised as a Christian and attended an Anglican school. He has lost confidence in God and what the Bible says throughout time, notably during his retirement years. He adheres to the notions of nature, evolution, and the unity of the earth.
He adheres to the idea that people should be conscious of their needs and consumption. Although he has not given much thought to spiritual or religious matters, he discovered that COVID-19 increased his awareness of his frailty. Religion has not helped him deal with losing friends throughout the years, and he thinks that people naturally build resilience to deal with loss as they move through all the stages and phases of life.
Participant C
Joan, participant C, is a 74-year-old married white South African woman. At the age of 8, she relocated to Johannesburg from Cape Town, where she had grown up. She holds a diploma in beauty and previously owned a salon before retiring. This interview was done in her independent home in Bryanston, Johannesburg. This participant currently works as a part-time bookkeeper in one of the stores.
Family Connection
This participant claims to have had a pleasant childhood and is close to her two elder sisters. She has been married for 52 years and lives with her husband and their 48-year-old daughter in a standalone house. Her spouse struggled with alcoholism early in their marriage, sought treatment, and has maintained sobriety for the past 40 years. They are close and have many of the same hobbies and interests.
Her daughter is a divorcée, and she claims their relationship has occasionally been “rocky.” Her two grandkids, who are in their 20s, reside in New Zealand with their father. She talks to them three times a week on average and considers becoming a grandma the most incredibly satisfying experience.
Friendships
This person takes great pride in being a great friend. The majority of her friendships go back 64 years. Her girlfriends are significant to her, so she often goes out of her way to meet them for lunch and coffee. When necessary, they have allowed numerous friends to live with them during their marriage, and this attitude has led to many friendships with people who are now all over the world.
She has no problem making new acquaintances as she ages because she is always up for new relationships. People approach her and start talking when she is out shopping. She believes that keeping friends with women of different ages keeps her current and makes her feel “young.”
She claims that from a health perspective, COVID-19 did not affect her and her family. Nevertheless, being isolated from her friendship group was quite challenging. She used social media to connect with and remain in touch with her pals, and she made a significant effort to find out how they were doing during that challenging period. She frequently exchanges jokes, family photos, and online chats, so she does not feel lonely or isolated in Johannesburg. She also does not think living in Johannesburg is difficult.
Financial Stability
This participant says she never anticipated having financial worries or that losing friends would cause her social circle to contract. The cost of living and COVID-19 have made life difficult for them as a pair, even though they had saved for this period in their lives. She continues to provide for her daughter, who resides with them. She believes that while one can make predictions about how retirement will unfold and even put in place various proactive plans for healthcare, this does not guarantee that it will turn out as one envisions.
Health Status
Participant C expressed her recent good health, noting that she feels her health has largely remained stable since turning 60. She suffers from gastric issues, which she believes are caused by stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, her work suffered, and she had trouble sleeping as her stress levels rose. She typically sleeps well when she is not worried.
She had knee surgery a few years ago, so when she brings the dogs to the park, she cannot walk as quickly or as far. She can obtain private treatment and attend frequent physiotherapy sessions, so she does not let this new restriction annoy her. Less exercise has caused her weight to increase, but she does not experience emotional problems like despair or high anxiety. She heavily relies on her husband for assistance when going through difficult times in her life.
Work
This participant operated a beauty salon for most of her career, but she sold it around 15 years ago. Still, she maintains personal relationships with many of her business associates and customers today, and the company was hugely successful. She claims that while working three times a week handling her husband’s aviation insurance company accounts, she does not consider herself to be retired. Although she does not particularly enjoy her accounting profession, she believes giving her a purpose and structure to her days is crucial.
As she has gotten older, she has discovered that her world has shrunk, and working is one way she has been able to stay relevant and connected. She believed she must also contribute financially to the marriage because she had always been independent due to her business. She was able to transition from selling her beauty business more smoothly by handling the books for her husband’s company, and she plans to continue working as long as possible.
Spirituality
This participant does not identify as a “religious” person; instead, she lives according to “Buddhist” philosophy.
Findings
From the results, it is evident that human beings undergo various stages of life as they mature. Every stage of life involves new institutions or circumstances that call for learning and a revised self-definition as a person sheds old roles and assumes new ones. Different duties and expectations are associated with each phase, which vary depending on the person and the culture.
Many people view their senior years as a fantastic opportunity to live a life free from the demands of work and family. Old age can be an opportunity to revisit hobbies and pursuits put on hold earlier in life when work obligations lessen. The cultural norms and conventions that people have socialized into cause these divergent perspectives on the course of life.
Most people dream of the day when they can retire and enjoy the rewards of their labor. Some people are naturally drawn to new interests and types of recreation when they retire from their daily work routines. While many people join new organizations and try new things, some may have a more challenging time adjusting to new routines and losing social positions, which can compromise their sense of worth. The degree of dependency and independence varies throughout a person’s life. The aging process is more social than biological, as age-related duties and personalities fluctuate according to societal definitions.
Discussion
The fundamental goal of successful aging is to increase the number of years that are healthy and functioning. Both a population-level and an individual-level perspective can be used to analyze the phenomena of successful aging. The individual level is defined by the results of health, physical, and cognitive capacity, as well as life involvement. However, at the population level, it encompasses health determinants to inform policy advocacy.
Snyder and Lopez referenced a 1988-1996 MacArthur Foundation research on successful aging led by John Rowe and an interdisciplinary team of collaborators (Urtamo et al., 2019). They examined elements related to talents, health, and well-being that encompassed physical, social, and psychological aspects. From a pool of 4,030 possible participants, a selection of 1,189 healthy adult participants aged 70 to 79 was made using cognitive and behavioral criteria (Urtamo et al., 2019). These significantly functioning adults underwent a 90-minute in-person interview before being monitored for an average of 7 years, during which time they participated in periodic interviews.
The findings from MacArthur’s study on successful aging were summarized by Rowe and Kahn as follows: avoiding diseases comes first, participation in life comes second, and maintaining high memory and cognitive performance comes third. These ideas are not all-inclusive, and this study supported the importance of the contributions made by its members. The participants shared themes related to family connection and belonging within a family structure, friendships, financial security, health conditions, employment, and spirituality.
Family Connection
The value of family support in a senior’s life cannot be overstated. The social network and connections directly affect the senior’s entire quality of life, which family members influence. Prioritizing family ties offers stability as an older adult’s social network changes.
Even with the good and bad times of arguments, the consistency of family relationships is a reliable source of socioemotional grounding as well as support programs. According to research by the United Health Group, more than half of elderly Americans cite faith or spirituality, as well as a devoted family, as the leading causes of optimism (Nugraheni & Hastings, 2021). That optimistic approach has a significant positive impact on a senior’s health and well-being.
Participant A talked about her interactions with her children, grandchildren, and friends. She acknowledged that she is a widow, sees her eldest son, daughter, and granddaughter once a week, and picks her up from school. Participant B claims his marriage has lasted 61 years and has been prosperous and joyful. He is a father to two sons who are 59 and 57 years old and younger daughters, twins, who are 45 years old. His social life is limited to a weekly shared meal with his daughters and weekend time spent with his grandchildren.
Participant C has been married for 52 years and resides in a standalone home with her husband and 48-year-old daughter. She added that she speaks to her grandchildren about three times a week and feels that being a grandmother has been the most incredibly satisfying experience. She also says that she looks to her husband for much support and depends on him significantly for anything that might go wrong in her life.
Family relationships are crucial in determining a person’s well-being throughout their lifetime, for better or ill. As people age, their need for caregiving increases, and other social ties, including those at work, become less important in their lives; family bonds may become more crucial to their overall well-being. From the three participants, it is evident that people who receive assistance from their families may feel more confident about themselves. This increased self-worth may serve as a psychological resource, promoting positivity, good moods, and improved mental health.
Friendships
Establishing and nurturing friendships as people get older is more crucial than ever. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle as one ages is essential, and having social and personal connections with others is not only enjoyable but also beneficial. These unique ties are undoubtedly essential for seniors, even while some transitions and situations at this phase of life can make developing and maintaining active friendships more difficult.
The interview revealed that although older persons engage in social engagement less frequently, they do so more thoroughly. Participant A claims that although she meets a group of six women for a book club once a month, she only interacts socially with one of the women in the group. She believes it is difficult to make new acquaintances at her age.
Participant B claims he has found it quite challenging to make new friends in his retirement years. He claimed that he enjoys playing bridge with four other men online weekly. Participant C takes satisfaction in being a perfect friend and in the fact that she makes an effort to see her girlfriends regularly for lunch and coffee.
Financial Security
Despite having a right to social security, poverty is one of the biggest dangers to older people’s human rights and is widespread, especially in wealthy governments. Depending on various variables, such as socioeconomic level, region, gender, and cultural or linguistic background, certain older persons are more vulnerable to financial insecurity. In their later years, most people in low- and middle-income countries rely on various income sources, such as pensions, employment, small businesses, assets, investments, and financial assistance from friends and family.
These sources of income are frequently unpredictable and erratic. Age-related income insecurity can be helped through sustainable pension systems connected to financial services. However, just one in four individuals over 65 in low- and middle-income nations receive a pension. Due to broad age restrictions, many senior citizens lack access to bank accounts where they can safely store cash and have trouble obtaining credit from financial institutions.
One factor determining an older adult’s well-being and level of contentment with their life is whether they are financially dependent or independent. The three participants discussed their post-retirement financial situation.
Participant A discussed her experiences with financial independence and dependence. She acknowledged that she tries to make ends meet but insisted that she is not financially reliant on any support system. She stated that she depends on her children to help her financially when they can, in addition to living off the pension payments she receives. She claims, however, that she makes an effort to practice thrift wherever she can and, in general, does not think that her financial incapacity to pay her bills has worsened the quality of her life.
Relating to financial reliance, Participant B’s circumstance is substantially different from that of the previous respondent. He knows their money will eventually run out because finances have been a big problem during his retirement years. A good family friend offers his residence; he does not own it. If the money runs out, this person intends to end his life. His main concern is that he does not bother his children, even though they live simply due to the rising cost of living.
The third respondent also provided his life history and experience with financial independence. She claimed that he is dissatisfied with his financial situation now that he is retired. However, she confirmed that she does not receive any outside financial support, just like the previous two respondents, which indicates that despite her lack of financial contentment, she finds life satisfying after retirement. Despite planning for retirement, she claims that the cost of living and COVID-19 have made things difficult for her and her husband as a married couple.
The three participants claimed to spend a lot of time with their children and grandchildren, and rarely kept in touch with their friends or former coworkers. Their absence of social interaction after retirement supports an assertion that a retiree’s ability to transition to a new way of life is significantly influenced by their economic situation (Hansson et al., 2017). None of the three participants retired voluntarily, which suggests that they may experience a lack of life satisfaction after retirement. A retired individual needs to have some, if not all, of the following: sufficient income, good health, and the freedom to retire, to experience a high level of life satisfaction.
Health Status
Evidence suggests that the percentage of life spent in better health has remained relatively steady, indicating that the extra years are often spent in ill health. Individuals’ ability to accomplish the things they cherish will be very comparable to that of a young individual if they can live these additional years in outstanding well-being and a supportive setting. The ramifications for older people and society are more detrimental if declines in cognitive and emotional capability primarily mark these extra years. While some variations in the health of the elderly are inherited, most are influenced by factors such as people’s homes, localities, and cultures, as well as their characteristics, including sex, race, or economic status. People’s characteristics and environments during their early years, or even as emerging fetuses, influence how they age over the long term.
Participant A almost died after catching the Delta version of the coronavirus. She has had short-term memory loss and a definite loss of her sense of taste since the illness. She has mostly been fit and healthy during her retirement. She does not go to the gym for exercise but tries to be active by doing chores around her house.
Participant B discusses how his health was terrible when he was a child, but is now tolerable in his retirement years. Although he says he is healthy and fit, he also has a couple of stents in his heart valve. In contrast to Participant A, this participant attends two weekly water aerobics sessions at the gym.
Participant C has generally felt healthy over the past few years and believes her health has not changed significantly after turning 60. She experiences gastric problems, but she attributes them to the stress of the COVID-19 period. During the lockdown, her work suffered, and as her stress levels rose, she experienced insomnia. Unlike participant B, this participant rarely goes to the gym for exercise.
Chronic illnesses are a significant problem for the elderly and explain that chronic conditions are uncommon in early adulthood, increase in prevalence in middle adulthood, and become more prevalent in late adulthood (Lang et al., 2020). The three participants’ overall health is consistent with these findings. Nevertheless, Vailati and Pagnini disagree, calling it a stereotype, with the notion that as people age, their health deteriorates (Vailati, Riboni, & Pagnini, 2021). These scholars contend that there is no evidence from studies to suggest that people’s health declines as they age and enter retirement. They claim that men’s well-being increases after the first year of retirement.
Participant A and Participant B happen to have difficulty moving quickly. Muscle tissue mass declines with age, accompanied by damage to tissue, loss of tone, reduced flexibility, decreased movement speed, and reduced strength (Keller & Engelhardt, 2019). After retiring, the selected participants were reported to have had sleeplessness and depression. Evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggests a strong and possibly reciprocal association between depression and sleep disorders. In the general population, roughly 60% of older people who are depressed have sleep disturbances.
Work
Participant A was a teacher before she retired, and she spent her entire career instructing matric Afrikaans and English at several schools. She worked as a gardener, an antique dealer, and a teacher for a while. Her best friend operated the antique store.
Participant B was an attorney when he retired, and he continues to provide legal counsel to charitable trusts and non-profit organizations. He was involved in volunteer activities for his political party and also belonged to a neighborhood crime-prevention group. Participant C managed a beauty salon and now spends three days a week managing the finances for her husband’s aviation insurance company.
Age is inversely correlated with workability, and research indicates that the correlation and capacity to work are far more critical for people who perform physically demanding tasks. The relationship between age/experience and employment demand gives rise to four primary categories of work (Lee, 2021). The first category consists of occupations where the necessary skills do not deteriorate with age, and experience adds value to the job. Second, experience does not contribute to the worth of the work, but the necessary skills do not deteriorate with age.
The third category comprises professionals whose abilities deteriorate with age but whose expertise can still be partially compensated. Fourth, the experience cannot fully compensate for the reduction in necessary skills that occurs with age. It is crucial to offer early retirement options or a transition to less physically demanding work within the same company for professions that are becoming increasingly physically demanding. This might explain why some people, for example, participant B and participant C, continue working voluntarily even after retirement.
Spirituality
To reveal the meaning and comprehension of the life quest and foster trust in a spiritual source, the notion of spirituality is all-encompassing and multidimensional, rooted in personal reasons and shaped by each person’s unique life experiences. It also includes a set of beliefs that are not affiliated with religious doctrines. Spirituality in religious persons may represent their religious dogma, creeds, and philosophical ideas, as they understand life and disease from those perspectives.
Religiosity is defined in the literature as the religious practices, creeds, and beliefs that are expressed in people’s behavior, values, and way of life, and that improve the quality of life for older individuals. People tend to give their lives meaning backed by spiritual dimensions over time. This is also an ongoing and evolving stage, giving different prominence to the spiritual aspects according to their significance in various life events.
Participant A grew up in the Anglican tradition and has consistently held a belief in God. Although she does not regularly attend church, she sets aside time for prayer. Dolcos claims that faith and religion can foster resilience and coping mechanisms to deal with stress. Consequently, the two aspects act as a crucial shield or “comfort blanket” against life’s blows (Dolcos et al., 2021).
Participant B claims that he was raised as a Christian and studied at an Anglican school. Over time—particularly during his retirement—he has become less certain about God and the teachings of the Bible. He argues that religion has not helped, as he has lost friends over the years, and he believes that people gradually develop resilience to cope with loss as they progress through its various stages and periods of life. While participant C does not identify as a “religious” person, she does live her life according to “Buddhist” philosophy.
Some literature addresses spirituality and effective aging, as well as the well-being and health of older persons more broadly, although there is minimal study primarily associating religion, spirituality, and belief with positive aging. Building on Rowe and Kahn’s concept of effective aging, which they argue overlooks the significant role spirituality plays for older persons in the aging process, Crowther et al. examine the concept of positive spirituality. Positive spirituality has been shown to lower stress, boost feelings of purpose in life, and alleviate some helplessness and powerlessness people experience while they are unwell. Spirituality is significant because it may influence later-life well-being and help older persons adjust to various aspects of aging. This could be why participant C never bothers his children and feels he should end his life after running out of money.
Strengths of the Study
Three elderly individuals who had retired from work were allowed to share their life stories as part of this study. The researcher was the crucial listener for their views on aging, which are otherwise absent in an African setting. According to Richard, understandings are socially constructed by a group of believers (Martínez-Richard, 2021). The analyst had to take time apart to comprehend the condition faced by elderly retirees. This is why, regardless of their socioeconomic situation, the researcher and everyone who reads this study should treat elderly retirees with respect and dignity.
The social constructionist approach of this study enabled the reconstruction of existence by fostering an intense, honest, trustworthy, and unconditional discussion. All sides were able to express themselves honestly thanks to this relationship. Scheduling interview questions allowed the researcher to present his limited understanding of the lives of elderly retirees, which prompted more in-depth research and generated more insightful and rich comments from elderly and retired individuals.
This study effectively explained the research goals to participants through the use of a qualitative research methodology. This differs from positivism’s epistemological inclinations, which encourage the use of natural sciences to analyze social reality and extend beyond (Crumpei & Gavriluţ, 2018). Study participants received information about the procedure they would be participating in and signed consent forms. Because they were regarded as authorities on their life histories and experiences, they were allowed the freedom to narrate their stories as they saw fit. The participants had the option to steer the researcher away from any topics that made them uncomfortable, or they could choose not to respond as they saw fit before the interview session. It was decided that they had the authority to stop the interview at any time.
Limitations of the Study
The researcher and the participants jointly constructed the facts of these stories. This is conceivable since the researcher designed the interview schedule, even though it was not strictly adhered to, and the interview questions guided the study. However, throughout the interview, the researcher made an effort to listen attentively and allow the participants to share their stories. The researcher acknowledges that the questions significantly influenced most of the motifs that emerged. Since the tales are not an absolute and complete representation of the participants’ experiences and emotions, the results may only be related to the interview questions.
It is also crucial to emphasize that the investigator, academia, and specialist sources, who are the participants, reconstructed the reality of the study’s conclusion. A big sample size is not appropriate for this type of study (Rusu Mocănașu, 2020). Although quantitative researchers cannot generalize the study, the goal was to give detailed and extensive data from the selected people.
The analyst did not conduct testimonial validity due to time constraints. According to Zu, the validity of a testimonial depends on the participants (Zu et al., 2021). The study’s respondents are allowed to evaluate the steps and processes they underwent, particularly the interview process. However, the researcher feels that he stayed within the research’s ethical parameters because he clearly explained the procedures to the subjects and obtained their informed consent.
Implications of the Study
The connection between how elderly individuals were nurtured and their conditions after retirement requires further study. The nature-nurture debate is covered in foundational psychology courses. While nurture refers to the knowledge and abilities that one picks up from society, nature describes how inherited genes shape one’s existence.
The researcher’s sampling of retirees from various professions was based on the premise that the participants’ wages and working conditions were likely comparable. However, there was a significant difference, with some respondents firmly asserting that they experienced fiscal and social stability, while others grumbled about being financially and socially disadvantaged. Therefore, there is a need for additional research on retired seniors that takes into account early rearing.
Conclusion
The purpose of the research study was to provide three older adults, aged between 60 and 90, who had retired from decent jobs but were still involved in various community activities, with the opportunity to share their personal experiences regarding life satisfaction or unhappiness after retirement. The individual and society jointly create these life tables. By allowing them to discuss their life experiences, insightful, illuminating, and educational knowledge would emerge from their varied and singular experiences.
The study’s objective was not to apply the results to the entire population. Instead, it was anticipated that the study’s findings would alert younger generations to the inevitability and impending nature of retirement and old age. Earlier research, which focuses on the factors contributing to life satisfaction or discontent, ignored this area. Because he created research questions that specifically address that issue, the researcher believes the study’s goal was accomplished. The researcher sought to investigate the topics of preparing for old age, continuing to participate in community initiatives after retirement, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle after retirement.
The researcher selected and highlighted key themes in each participant’s life experience, demonstrating the benefits and drawbacks mentioned by the participants. The comparative study of the topics that frequently arose in both individuals and books followed. The researcher hopes that this investigation will yield some insights from elderly retirees that earlier researchers were unaware of. In this context, he anticipates that fresh perspectives and interactions with elderly retirees will emerge. The themes discussed were friendships, family connections, and a sense of belonging, as well as spirituality, employment, financial security, and health conditions. The themes in each of these life tales were highlighted.
This study appeared to have produced insightful data about elderly retirees. They shared many similarities in terms of religion, wisdom, and physical well-being. After retirement, changes occurred in the financial situation and social networks, which the researcher believes require further research.
During working hours, financial management skills should be learned. Young adults should be educated about studies that show how working people often lack creativity, initiative, and self-sustaining skills. These abilities can be taught in higher education to better equip students to support themselves when they leave the workforce.
In the world of education, there is debate about the merits of defensive versus comprehensive education. Defensive education aims to prepare students to obtain a credential and find employment. The extensive education provides lasting skills that will equip students with the knowledge they need to support themselves throughout their lives. Future research should develop methods for providing outstanding knowledge to prevent the aging of retired persons who lack a sense of overall happiness and well-being.
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