Certainly, there are people who can't wait to leave work, and people with grand plans for retirement. There are also people who have worked a long time in a stressful environment or doing heavy manual work, or who live in a poor community, and whose life expectancy is much shorter. But most people in their 50s say that they would like to work…

Everyone is living through a period of considerable demographic change, which is predicted to continue and escalate. People are living longer and, generally, healthier lives, and the lifelong learning system in the UK needs to catch-up with this new reality. There is a need for a much more flexible approach that offers choice and opportunities to…

Presents some myths and assumptions about aging and older adults. Describes the content of current preretirement education programs. (Canadian Home Economics Association, 151 Slater Street, Suite 805, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3.) (SK)

Discusses why education for older persons needs to be given much higher priority than it now has. (JOW)

Suggests five steps to help plan for retirement: (1) start planning for a retirement home; (2) launch a retirement business now; (3) maximize 401(k) contributions; (4) be informed about 401(k); and (5) create an "event" timeline for college, weddings, and other expensive items. (JOW)

More than half of Italian retirees (n=478) surveyed experienced no problems with retirement, but many were still interested in retirement preparation programs. They wanted programs to address a wide range of psychological and social subjects. (SK)

After 1 year, the efficacy of three retirement seminars (financial planning information, n=30; financial goal-setting, n=25; combined information and goal-setting, n=25) was measured. Compared to those of 26 controls, goal clarity, planning, and savings practices of seminar participants were most changed. Strongest impact was on those in combined…

Examines ways in which discussion of education for older adults has been enlarged and expanded since 1973. Discusses developments in third-age learning, educational gerontology, and preretirement education. (Contains 33 references.) (SK)

Studies on retirement reporting that, compared to people not retired, recent retirees exhibited less income, more physical and mental illness, lower self-esteem, and less life satisfaction have been challenged and new findings have been revealed by longitudinal studies using data from large samples. It appears that perhaps the way individuals…

The author outlines the dimensions of the retirement boom in Australia and the cost implications of the changing population structure. He also discusses preretirement education (PRE) in Australia and the centralized information and planning of PRE. Finally, he uses American data to provide market background for a discussion of new activities. (CT)

Survey responses from 298 adults over 50 indicated that they were interested in instrumental learning focused on maintaining personal resources and capacity in order to engage with local, national, and global concerns. A more accurate picture of motivation arises from asking what adults want to do that is personally meaningful, instead of what do…

Presents examples of some of the educational offerings for older people in nations at three very different stages of development: Ghana, Singapore, and France. Examines traditional forms of education, family living workshops, preretirement education, self-directed learning, decentralization of older adult education, and educational programs for…

Tested the effectiveness of training 50 older adults as peer counselors to lead a weekend preretirement seminar. Small group discussions focused on self-esteem, interpersonal relations, and leisure time management. Results showed improvement in self-efficacy ratings, retirement knowledge, and morale three months after the intervention. (JAC)

Reports on a survey of 90 human resources professionals on the topic of older workers. Covers (1) productivity and attitude, (2) educational/training opportunities, (3) absenteeism and job safety, (4) managerial and executive positions, and (5) retirement and preretirement, among other topics. (CH)

The author identifies and describes eight issues relevant to retirement preparation programs that can be used for program planning or setting criteria for program selection. (CH)