Long commutes during working life 'creating isolation for retirees', survey finds
The growth of commuter towns linked to cities is leading to new challenges in retirement for people with few connections where they live.
The growth of commuter towns linked to cities is leading to new challenges in retirement for people with few connections where they live, a retirement planning expert has warned.
A survey has found 48% of retirees think keeping links with their former colleagues is important, according to the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC).
However Paul Kenny, programme leader with the RPC, said they were now seeing people struggle with this as they may live long distances from their former workmates.
“It’s very easy to be alone in a city,” he said.
“We have come across people like that who have been very isolated. They had depended so much on their work contacts, and didn’t really have any contact with people in their neighbourhood.”
Some people might commute 90 minutes now into work, he said, leaving them with few chances to make friends locally.
“Where is the time to go out and socialise with your neighbours? That’s a new development,” he said.
He was on holidays in Cork last week and noted people also travelling long distances, with few large employers in some rural areas, he added.
“There’s not an awful lot of time to meet the neighbours, you have to reacquaint yourself with where you live [when you retire],” he said.
Mr Kenny, 78, was Ireland’s first pensions ombudsman until he retired in 2016.
He said the idea of retirement was changing rapidly and people needed to be aware of what could be ahead.
“People are living longer and living more healthy lives,” he said.
“When I started in pensions, the actuaries told us a man who reached to 65 would live about 13 years [longer]. That’s gone up to 21 now.
“A woman lives about four years longer than a man, so 17 years (then) is now up to 24 or 25 years.” He added: “the life expectancy of a 65 year old has gone up by 50% in 50 years.”
The council, a not-for-profit body, found 29% of retirees find it more difficult to keep social connections in retirement against 23% who find it easier to do.
Some 65% acknowledged their health would affect their ability to maintain relationships with friends and family, but 24% did not see health as a factor.
Mr Kenny urged people to plan for the social side of retirement, not only for the financial. This could include monthly meet-ups with former colleagues as well as expanding hobbies and other interests.
Some 55% of those questioned for the survey planned to “re-assess” friendships after retiring and be proactive in nurturing these relationships.
Similarly, 54% expected to evaluate family relationships and 33% believed their family relationships would improve during retirement.
He said people retiring now may also be involved in assisting to care for elderly relatives as people living longer becomes more common.
Laura Farrell, RPC chief executive, said the survey identified the “vital role that friendships play in ensuring a fulfilling retirement” now.
“Building and maintaining these connections not only enhances emotional wellbeing but also contributes significantly to overall life satisfaction as retirees navigate this new chapter,” she said.
