retirement why are we stuck with the word retirement it’s a false goal if you
word retirement it’s a false goal if you
word retirement it’s a false goal if you look in the English Oxford Dictionary
look in the English Oxford Dictionary
look in the English Oxford Dictionary for the definition of retirement you’re
for the definition of retirement you’re
for the definition of retirement you’re told it’s rest rest in bed seclusion
told it’s rest rest in bed seclusion
told it’s rest rest in bed seclusion removal from action and danger and of
removal from action and danger and of
removal from action and danger and of course giving up your job or your
course giving up your job or your
course giving up your job or your professional activity
professional activity
professional activity well maybe six or seven years after
well maybe six or seven years after
well maybe six or seven years after retirement some 30 years ago you were
retirement some 30 years ago you were
retirement some 30 years ago you were dead but now we live 30 or 40 years
dead but now we live 30 or 40 years
dead but now we live 30 or 40 years after we retire is that going to be
after we retire is that going to be
after we retire is that going to be lying down is it going to be in
lying down is it going to be in
lying down is it going to be in seclusion somehow the word retirement is
seclusion somehow the word retirement is
seclusion somehow the word retirement is synonymous with I’ve done it I’m now
synonymous with I’ve done it I’m now
synonymous with I’ve done it I’m now going to rest
going to rest
going to rest I’m going to take a break but even worse
I’m going to take a break but even worse
I’m going to take a break but even worse it’s also thought that it’s good for our
it’s also thought that it’s good for our
it’s also thought that it’s good for our health well nothing could be further
health well nothing could be further
health well nothing could be further from the truth it is not good for our
from the truth it is not good for our
from the truth it is not good for our mental or our physical health I often
mental or our physical health I often
mental or our physical health I often get quite annoyed when people say to me
get quite annoyed when people say to me
get quite annoyed when people say to me I’m going to take the lift not the
I’m going to take the lift not the
I’m going to take the lift not the stairs because you know I’m getting old
stairs because you know I’m getting old
stairs because you know I’m getting old why can’t we have a new name why can’t
why can’t we have a new name why can’t
why can’t we have a new name why can’t we have a name that indicates that we’re
we have a name that indicates that we’re
we have a name that indicates that we’re vibrant we’re active we have purposeful
vibrant we’re active we have purposeful
vibrant we’re active we have purposeful activity so please could you think about
activity so please could you think about
activity so please could you think about a new name for me some two years ago
a new name for me some two years ago
a new name for me some two years ago when I was on holiday I was browsing in
when I was on holiday I was browsing in
when I was on holiday I was browsing in a bookshop I came across a book about a
a bookshop I came across a book about a
a bookshop I came across a book about a woman called Clare Boothe Luce she was
woman called Clare Boothe Luce she was
woman called Clare Boothe Luce she was an American diplomat when this book was
an American diplomat when this book was
an American diplomat when this book was written she was 80 years of age just
written she was 80 years of age just
written she was 80 years of age just inside the front
inside the front
inside the front cover this woman said I will be
cover this woman said I will be
cover this woman said I will be ambitious until the day I die when you
ambitious until the day I die when you
ambitious until the day I die when you flick through the pages you got a sense
flick through the pages you got a sense
flick through the pages you got a sense of a truly vibrant woman who was really
of a truly vibrant woman who was really
of a truly vibrant woman who was really living her life she was still in paid
living her life she was still in paid
living her life she was still in paid work she was doing voluntary work now
work she was doing voluntary work now
work she was doing voluntary work now contrast that with mr. Wright mr. Wright
contrast that with mr. Wright mr. Wright
contrast that with mr. Wright mr. Wright was a friend and colleague of my father
was a friend and colleague of my father
was a friend and colleague of my father they both worked in the coop warehouse
they both worked in the coop warehouse
they both worked in the coop warehouse mr. Wright joined the coop at 16 he was
mr. Wright joined the coop at 16 he was
mr. Wright joined the coop at 16 he was going to retire at 65
going to retire at 65
going to retire at 65 they gave him his gold watch and I was
they gave him his gold watch and I was
they gave him his gold watch and I was talking to him over the fence about two
talking to him over the fence about two
talking to him over the fence about two weeks after he retired I said mr. Wright
weeks after he retired I said mr. Wright
weeks after he retired I said mr. Wright what are you going to do he looked
what are you going to do he looked
what are you going to do he looked rather soulful and down and then almost
rather soulful and down and then almost
rather soulful and down and then almost in tears he said to me I have no job I
in tears he said to me I have no job I
in tears he said to me I have no job I am waiting to die I was 16 of course I
am waiting to die I was 16 of course I
am waiting to die I was 16 of course I thought I was immortal I was really more
thought I was immortal I was really more
thought I was immortal I was really more concerned about my own levels the mr.
concerned about my own levels the mr.
concerned about my own levels the mr. Wright and his problems I wasn’t really
Wright and his problems I wasn’t really
Wright and his problems I wasn’t really very sympathetic mr. Wright was dead by
very sympathetic mr. Wright was dead by
very sympathetic mr. Wright was dead by 17 he had no purposeful work he had
17 he had no purposeful work he had
17 he had no purposeful work he had nothing to live for now work is defined
nothing to live for now work is defined
nothing to live for now work is defined in the dictionary as purposeful activity
in the dictionary as purposeful activity
in the dictionary as purposeful activity it could be paid could be unpaid it
it could be paid could be unpaid it
it could be paid could be unpaid it might be full or part-time or
might be full or part-time or
might be full or part-time or self-employment you might be caring for
self-employment you might be caring for
self-employment you might be caring for someone you may be a homemaker bringing
someone you may be a homemaker bringing
someone you may be a homemaker bringing up a family you may be doing voluntary
up a family you may be doing voluntary
up a family you may be doing voluntary activities all of these things are
activities all of these things are
activities all of these things are social good and individual good they are
social good and individual good they are
social good and individual good they are purposeful activity I want that work
purposeful activity I want that work
purposeful activity I want that work be good work I’m not talking about bad
be good work I’m not talking about bad
be good work I’m not talking about bad work and there is quite a lot of bad
work and there is quite a lot of bad
work and there is quite a lot of bad work around I’m talking about work where
work around I’m talking about work where
work around I’m talking about work where you feel valued where you listen to
you feel valued where you listen to
you feel valued where you listen to where you’re given a sense of control so
where you’re given a sense of control so
where you’re given a sense of control so I have to tell you about my underground
I have to tell you about my underground
I have to tell you about my underground train driver this was when I was
train driver this was when I was
train driver this was when I was national director for health and work
national director for health and work
national director for health and work and I thought that some people had very
and I thought that some people had very
and I thought that some people had very boring jobs so I said can I go and join
boring jobs so I said can I go and join
boring jobs so I said can I go and join someone who’s driving an underground
someone who’s driving an underground
someone who’s driving an underground train so I joined my driver at Baker
train so I joined my driver at Baker
train so I joined my driver at Baker Street tube station it was the early
Street tube station it was the early
Street tube station it was the early shift 5:00 a.m. in the morning we sat
shift 5:00 a.m. in the morning we sat
shift 5:00 a.m. in the morning we sat together in his little cabin well I got
together in his little cabin well I got
together in his little cabin well I got pretty bored we went up and down the
pretty bored we went up and down the
pretty bored we went up and down the Bakerloo line so I said you know could
Bakerloo line so I said you know could
Bakerloo line so I said you know could we do the Jubilee Line and and this is
we do the Jubilee Line and and this is
we do the Jubilee Line and and this is an awfully early shift and wouldn’t it
an awfully early shift and wouldn’t it
an awfully early shift and wouldn’t it be good for your family if you could
be good for your family if you could
be good for your family if you could have the afternoon shift and then I said
have the afternoon shift and then I said
have the afternoon shift and then I said course if your employer was a good
course if your employer was a good
course if your employer was a good employer you could have a week above
employer you could have a week above
employer you could have a week above ground at the barriers talking to people
ground at the barriers talking to people
ground at the barriers talking to people and then three weeks underground in this
and then three weeks underground in this
and then three weeks underground in this really dark tunnel well he was very
really dark tunnel well he was very
really dark tunnel well he was very happy to drop me off well when he
happy to drop me off well when he
happy to drop me off well when he dropped me off what he did it was
dropped me off what he did it was
dropped me off what he did it was wonderful he banged on his reel and said
wonderful he banged on his reel and said
wonderful he banged on his reel and said looking fairly cross with me this is my
looking fairly cross with me this is my
looking fairly cross with me this is my train nothing happens here but that I
train nothing happens here but that I
train nothing happens here but that I give the orders I’m responsible for the
give the orders I’m responsible for the
give the orders I’m responsible for the safety of the people behind me I’ve got
safety of the people behind me I’ve got
safety of the people behind me I’ve got good mates I don’t want the Metropolitan
good mates I don’t want the Metropolitan
good mates I don’t want the Metropolitan Life but I don’t want a later shift
Life but I don’t want a later shift
Life but I don’t want a later shift we’ve got good occupational house I’m
we’ve got good occupational house I’m
we’ve got good occupational house I’m reasonably well paid more or less he was
reasonably well paid more or less he was
reasonably well paid more or less he was saying go away
saying go away
saying go away now I thought my train driver would be
now I thought my train driver would be
now I thought my train driver would be in that job until he was in his sixties
in that job until he was in his sixties
in that job until he was in his sixties until he was going to retire but then
until he was going to retire but then
until he was going to retire but then what had we thought about him having new
what had we thought about him having new
what had we thought about him having new skills did he have an educational need
skills did he have an educational need
skills did he have an educational need or was he going to sit lie down and
or was he going to sit lie down and
or was he going to sit lie down and shrivel this was a man with purposeful
shrivel this was a man with purposeful
shrivel this was a man with purposeful activity now for most of you in the
activity now for most of you in the
activity now for most of you in the audience this will not be a problem you
audience this will not be a problem you
audience this will not be a problem you will have thought about this transition
will have thought about this transition
will have thought about this transition period and what can happen afterwards
period and what can happen afterwards
period and what can happen afterwards but there are thousands and thousands of
but there are thousands and thousands of
but there are thousands and thousands of people out there who are not in the sort
people out there who are not in the sort
people out there who are not in the sort of jobs where they have thought about
of jobs where they have thought about
of jobs where they have thought about this I believe if someone is mentally
this I believe if someone is mentally
this I believe if someone is mentally and physically able if they have
and physically able if they have
and physically able if they have aspirations if they have hidden
aspirations if they have hidden
aspirations if they have hidden ambitions they should be able to do this
ambitions they should be able to do this
ambitions they should be able to do this at whatever time of life they are indeed
at whatever time of life they are indeed
at whatever time of life they are indeed encouraging my train driver to slow down
encouraging my train driver to slow down
encouraging my train driver to slow down to sit down take more rest is actually
to sit down take more rest is actually
to sit down take more rest is actually bad for his health just to concentrate
bad for his health just to concentrate
bad for his health just to concentrate on one part of health just let us think
on one part of health just let us think
on one part of health just let us think about physical activity we now know that
about physical activity we now know that
about physical activity we now know that physical activity is very related
physical activity is very related
physical activity is very related strongly correlated to your overall
strongly correlated to your overall
strongly correlated to your overall health
health
health in fact it’s bad for you to really just
in fact it’s bad for you to really just
in fact it’s bad for you to really just rest and sleep and do nothing else and
rest and sleep and do nothing else and
rest and sleep and do nothing else and we now know there is a medical condition
we now know there is a medical condition
we now know there is a medical condition called frailty if you’re frail you sit
called frailty if you’re frail you sit
called frailty if you’re frail you sit more when you walk you walk far more
more when you walk you walk far more
more when you walk you walk far more slowly your grip strength gets worse you
slowly your grip strength gets worse you
slowly your grip strength gets worse you feel exhausted
feel exhausted
feel exhausted and you lose weight now that condition
and you lose weight now that condition
and you lose weight now that condition of frailty you might think happens oh
of frailty you might think happens oh
of frailty you might think happens oh well after when you’re 80 but let me
well after when you’re 80 but let me
well after when you’re 80 but let me tell you there is good evidence now this
tell you there is good evidence now this
tell you there is good evidence now this happens to people in their fifties and
happens to people in their fifties and
happens to people in their fifties and their sixties and it is correlated with
their sixties and it is correlated with
their sixties and it is correlated with your ability to be in work so we don’t
your ability to be in work so we don’t
your ability to be in work so we don’t want to be encouraging people to do too
want to be encouraging people to do too
want to be encouraging people to do too much sitting which brings me to my story
much sitting which brings me to my story
much sitting which brings me to my story from this summer I was on holiday in
from this summer I was on holiday in
from this summer I was on holiday in Spain on a walking holiday um and it had
Spain on a walking holiday um and it had
Spain on a walking holiday um and it had been rather wet and damp we were coming
been rather wet and damp we were coming
been rather wet and damp we were coming down the mountain and I fell and I
down the mountain and I fell and I
down the mountain and I fell and I fractured my left leg fortunately just
fractured my left leg fortunately just
fractured my left leg fortunately just the small bone in my left leg I was put
the small bone in my left leg I was put
the small bone in my left leg I was put in a nice boot with a rocker and I could
in a nice boot with a rocker and I could
in a nice boot with a rocker and I could walk pretty fast but all my friends were
walk pretty fast but all my friends were
walk pretty fast but all my friends were highly protective Carol I think you
highly protective Carol I think you
highly protective Carol I think you should sit down let us make you a cup of
should sit down let us make you a cup of
should sit down let us make you a cup of tea it would really be better if you had
tea it would really be better if you had
tea it would really be better if you had a car to go there and then one friend
a car to go there and then one friend
a car to go there and then one friend said well why don’t you take two months
said well why don’t you take two months
said well why don’t you take two months off work it’ll help you recover as if
off work it’ll help you recover as if
off work it’ll help you recover as if just resting was going to help me
just resting was going to help me
just resting was going to help me recover indeed the opposite is true if
recover indeed the opposite is true if
recover indeed the opposite is true if you want a bone to heal you have to give
you want a bone to heal you have to give
you want a bone to heal you have to give it some messages you have to give it a
it some messages you have to give it a
it some messages you have to give it a little bit of tension so walking was
little bit of tension so walking was
little bit of tension so walking was very good for me and I did walk and two
very good for me and I did walk and two
very good for me and I did walk and two weeks after my accident then I was able
weeks after my accident then I was able
weeks after my accident then I was able to join in the Cambridge Chariots of
to join in the Cambridge Chariots of
to join in the Cambridge Chariots of Fire race I just did fast walking now
Fire race I just did fast walking now
Fire race I just did fast walking now I’m really pleased to say that a light
I’m really pleased to say that a light
I’m really pleased to say that a light bulb has gone on in Whitehall the
bulb has gone on in Whitehall the
bulb has gone on in Whitehall the government really gets this connection
government really gets this connection
government really gets this connection and is concerned about it so just before
and is concerned about it so just before
and is concerned about it so just before Christmas there was a very good report
Christmas there was a very good report
Christmas there was a very good report published which linked active aging to
published which linked active aging to
published which linked active aging to our musculoskeletal system and being
our musculoskeletal system and being
our musculoskeletal system and being physically active with some pretty good
physically active with some pretty good
physically active with some pretty good advice about what we might do and I’m
advice about what we might do and I’m
advice about what we might do and I’m really delighted
really delighted
really delighted that our charities for example Age
that our charities for example Age
that our charities for example Age Concern are right behind this movement
Concern are right behind this movement
Concern are right behind this movement but what would I like to eliminate from
but what would I like to eliminate from
but what would I like to eliminate from the way we think about and indeed treat
the way we think about and indeed treat
the way we think about and indeed treat older people well I want to eliminate
older people well I want to eliminate
older people well I want to eliminate our being overprotective you know what
our being overprotective you know what
our being overprotective you know what we say is well you might trip or fall if
we say is well you might trip or fall if
we say is well you might trip or fall if you go out you might break your leg so
you go out you might break your leg so
you go out you might break your leg so why not sit at home we make them less
why not sit at home we make them less
why not sit at home we make them less self-confident they know that they’re
self-confident they know that they’re
self-confident they know that they’re balanced this is just good we all know
balanced this is just good we all know
balanced this is just good we all know our balance isn’t as good as we get
our balance isn’t as good as we get
our balance isn’t as good as we get older but rather than be hugely
older but rather than be hugely
older but rather than be hugely protective so they don’t go and meet
protective so they don’t go and meet
protective so they don’t go and meet their friends for coffee they don’t go
their friends for coffee they don’t go
their friends for coffee they don’t go to the church hall to have afternoon tea
to the church hall to have afternoon tea
to the church hall to have afternoon tea they don’t go and do their shopping why
they don’t go and do their shopping why
they don’t go and do their shopping why don’t we help them do things that
don’t we help them do things that
don’t we help them do things that improve their balance you can clean your
improve their balance you can clean your
improve their balance you can clean your teeth standing on one foot that’s very
teeth standing on one foot that’s very
teeth standing on one foot that’s very good for your balance and surely it is
good for your balance and surely it is
good for your balance and surely it is for the social good and indeed it would
for the social good and indeed it would
for the social good and indeed it would cost less money if we concentrated on
cost less money if we concentrated on
cost less money if we concentrated on being positive rather the leaving people
being positive rather the leaving people
being positive rather the leaving people in their home secluded and if you’re
in their home secluded and if you’re
in their home secluded and if you’re secluded you become lonely and I don’t
secluded you become lonely and I don’t
secluded you become lonely and I don’t need to tell you that loneliness is now
need to tell you that loneliness is now
need to tell you that loneliness is now a national disease the other thing I
a national disease the other thing I
a national disease the other thing I really get upset about is going into a
really get upset about is going into a
really get upset about is going into a care home now some care homes are very
care home now some care homes are very
care home now some care homes are very good but I’ve been into too many when
good but I’ve been into too many when
good but I’ve been into too many when you go in and you see people just
you go in and you see people just
you go in and you see people just sitting all around the room they’re not
sitting all around the room they’re not
sitting all around the room they’re not talking to each other some of them are
talking to each other some of them are
talking to each other some of them are just looking straight ahead some are
just looking straight ahead some are
just looking straight ahead some are looking at the television but there’s no
looking at the television but there’s no
looking at the television but there’s no purposeful activity now why aren’t they
purposeful activity now why aren’t they
purposeful activity now why aren’t they on the floor doing a movement Plus why
on the floor doing a movement Plus why
on the floor doing a movement Plus why aren’t they going out for a walk or what
aren’t they going out for a walk or what
aren’t they going out for a walk or what about a bit of yoga or
about a bit of yoga or
about a bit of yoga or simple artists why isn’t there some
simple artists why isn’t there some
simple artists why isn’t there some purpose now my own life has had many
purpose now my own life has had many
purpose now my own life has had many episodes of purposeful activity and many
episodes of purposeful activity and many
episodes of purposeful activity and many of them have been after the age of 50
of them have been after the age of 50
of them have been after the age of 50 indeed many of the best things have been
indeed many of the best things have been
indeed many of the best things have been after the age of 50 I would describe
after the age of 50 I would describe
after the age of 50 I would describe myself as a late developer I became
myself as a late developer I became
myself as a late developer I became national director for health and work at
national director for health and work at
national director for health and work at the age of 66 and had a wonderful
the age of 66 and had a wonderful
the age of 66 and had a wonderful challenge but earlier in my life I
challenge but earlier in my life I
challenge but earlier in my life I didn’t have enough confidence I wasn’t a
didn’t have enough confidence I wasn’t a
didn’t have enough confidence I wasn’t a good enough risk-taker
good enough risk-taker
good enough risk-taker there were periods when I was pretty
there were periods when I was pretty
there were periods when I was pretty static but things did develop after the
static but things did develop after the
static but things did develop after the age of 50 and I talked about this when I
age of 50 and I talked about this when I
age of 50 and I talked about this when I did Desert Island Discs and I was
did Desert Island Discs and I was
did Desert Island Discs and I was immensely moved by the number of people
immensely moved by the number of people
immensely moved by the number of people who either wrote me emails or letters
who either wrote me emails or letters
who either wrote me emails or letters and told me their stories their stories
and told me their stories their stories
and told me their stories their stories of how they wanted to do things after 50
of how they wanted to do things after 50
of how they wanted to do things after 50 and 60 their aspirations their ambitions
and 60 their aspirations their ambitions
and 60 their aspirations their ambitions their hopes
their hopes
their hopes it was truly moving just to give you an
it was truly moving just to give you an
it was truly moving just to give you an example of a really good message that I
example of a really good message that I
example of a really good message that I received was from a woman who said well
received was from a woman who said well
received was from a woman who said well my husband had a very good career and
my husband had a very good career and
my husband had a very good career and he’s thinking of taking early retirement
he’s thinking of taking early retirement
he’s thinking of taking early retirement I took some time off with the children
I took some time off with the children
I took some time off with the children got a part-time job then a full-time job
got a part-time job then a full-time job
got a part-time job then a full-time job and now it’s my time I want a career I
and now it’s my time I want a career I
and now it’s my time I want a career I might live to be a hundred so I told him
might live to be a hundred so I told him
might live to be a hundred so I told him I’m just starting
I’m just starting
I’m just starting we often inside do not feel confident
we often inside do not feel confident
we often inside do not feel confident when we go for jobs at this age will
when we go for jobs at this age will
when we go for jobs at this age will they regard me as old incapable not
they regard me as old incapable not
they regard me as old incapable not mature
mature
mature will I be resilient enough why can’t
will I be resilient enough why can’t
will I be resilient enough why can’t they see us as experienced capable
they see us as experienced capable
they see us as experienced capable people who will do the job
people who will do the job
people who will do the job surely that should be possible I’m going
surely that should be possible I’m going
surely that should be possible I’m going to be flippant for a moment because I
to be flippant for a moment because I
to be flippant for a moment because I want to talk about clothes and shoes now
want to talk about clothes and shoes now
want to talk about clothes and shoes now when you get to my age should you want
when you get to my age should you want
when you get to my age should you want to buy fashionable clothes I can’t tell
to buy fashionable clothes I can’t tell
to buy fashionable clothes I can’t tell you it’s difficult what they would like
you it’s difficult what they would like
you it’s difficult what they would like to do is to put us into rather long
to do is to put us into rather long
to do is to put us into rather long skirts the colours are often drab and
skirts the colours are often drab and
skirts the colours are often drab and there’s a lot of sort of pale floral
there’s a lot of sort of pale floral
there’s a lot of sort of pale floral colors and it gets worse
colors and it gets worse
colors and it gets worse when you want a pair of jeans really you
when you want a pair of jeans really you
when you want a pair of jeans really you shouldn’t be wanting jeans at this age
shouldn’t be wanting jeans at this age
shouldn’t be wanting jeans at this age what about shoes I can’t wear those very
what about shoes I can’t wear those very
what about shoes I can’t wear those very big heels but I could wear elegant pumps
big heels but I could wear elegant pumps
big heels but I could wear elegant pumps with a heel that is suitable for me
with a heel that is suitable for me
with a heel that is suitable for me feeling a really competent woman at the
feeling a really competent woman at the
feeling a really competent woman at the age I am why do these retailers not see
age I am why do these retailers not see
age I am why do these retailers not see us as a market why are we not encouraged
us as a market why are we not encouraged
us as a market why are we not encouraged to go into those shops like the young I
to go into those shops like the young I
to go into those shops like the young I wish that that could happen so I talk to
wish that that could happen so I talk to
wish that that could happen so I talk to you about retirement I taught you about
you about retirement I taught you about
you about retirement I taught you about how its defined that you will sit that
how its defined that you will sit that
how its defined that you will sit that you will lie down that you’ll be
you will lie down that you’ll be
you will lie down that you’ll be secluded removed from the world I don’t
secluded removed from the world I don’t
secluded removed from the world I don’t want that I want anyone and everyone of
want that I want anyone and everyone of
want that I want anyone and everyone of that age to feel that they have purpose
that age to feel that they have purpose
that age to feel that they have purpose and that they can live life to the full
and that they can live life to the full
and that they can live life to the full you often feel there is a deadness
you often feel there is a deadness
you often feel there is a deadness living I hope to be ambitious until the
living I hope to be ambitious until the
living I hope to be ambitious until the day I die I will not be part of the
day I die I will not be part of the
day I die I will not be part of the Living Dead
”
Be First to Comment