Phases of Retirement Phase 1

As we move through the three phases of retirement there are three broad categories that are considered, in the National Framework on Aging, as the three “pillars of seniors’ wellness”. They are:

1) Health, wellness and security, which includes health and wellness, safety and security and income security

2) Continuous learning, work and participation in society, which includes work and retirement, age discrimination and negative stereotypes, social participation and ethnocultural diversity.

3) Supporting and caring in the community, which includes living arrangements, transportation, social isolation and loneliness, family/informal caregiving and seniors in Northern/remote Canada

In each phase, we, as a society have to provide, at a minimum the above three pillars to help seniors to live independent and full lives.

As we go through retirement there are three phases that have been identified. The first is the independent phase, people in this phase have minimal physical limitations and good health. During this phase, people are generally more able to engage with retirement activities that can have positive impacts on their physical and mental health. Some people in the Independent Phase are less able to access its benefits, in particular people with low levels of savings and income, and women, who are more likely to be careers.

Because the Independent Phase is associated with more positive later life experiences, older people could benefit from support with remaining in this stage for as long as possible. If they remain active, people who retire into the Independent Phase can experience improvements in physical health, which can, in turn, elongate their time in the Independent Phase. People retiring into the Independent, Phase can also experience improvements in mental and emotional wellbeing, particularly if they are able to engage in positive leisure activities and more structured activities such as volunteering, which those in the Decline and Dependent Phases may be less able to engage with due to physical limitations.