Retirement, You Will Have The Time But Will You Have The Money?

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When It Comes To Retirement

You Will Have The Time ...

But Will You Have The Money?

Cat Island Beach

“Getting our families ready for the 21 st century will be challenging but with time, love and effort we will be able to keep our relationships flourishing and growing. For life’s greatest values are experienced when we care one for another.”- Glenn

Several years ago I visited Cat Island for the first time, retirement really came to mind as two thing stood out to me about the island. It was not the lovely white sandy beaches, lined with coconut trees that stretched along the Atlantic for miles, though they were very beautiful and a peaceful retreat for a city boy.

It was not the breath taking view from the top of Mount Alvernia, the only mountain and highest point in the Bahamas.

No, it was not my visit to the historic Hermitage.

It was the number of elderly persons in the community - Persons whose ages ranged between 70 and 97. Not only were they there but the level of activity of these elderly persons.

They were still very active in the social and economical life of the Island even at retirement age.

Sadly, as I listen to the various news reports and community announcements their numbers have been decreasing.

When you compare this with city life where older persons in retirement are considered useless and are either neglected or abandoned by their families; don’t have jobs to go to or are forced to work under rather poor condition; you would begin to understand why it is important for you to start planning for your retirement years. It is important for you to decide on the life that you want in retirement or the life you get will be decided for you!

October is “Older Persons Month” in the Bahamas – with the theme “Older persons are a vital part of the family in the new millennium.” The Department of Social Service has planned a full month of activities geared towards highlighting the talents and skills of “older persons” and to educate and sensitise the wider community about the issues and concerns of aging.

And if you’re saying “you’re as old as you feel,” an “Older Person” is anyone over the age of 60 and based on the Department of Statistics estimates approximately 5.2% of the population or 15,600 persons are in this category.

This undertaking by the department is very important because with improvements in medicine, science and technology many Bahamian can expect to live longer and probably healthier lives than previous generations. I know you may be surprising after what I just told you and your own experience that may have you feeling that the older folks were stronger and healthier.

However, you will find that:

healthy eating,
physical activity,
mental stimulation,
not smoking,
not using alcohol,
maintaining a safe environment,
strong family and social support, and
regular health care

are important in maintaining your health and independence as you get older.

Information about disease prevention and health promotion activities are readily available and will help you and your loved ones become more knowledgeable about the health problems you may face and how you can prevent, delay, or manage them.
But it’s up to you to decide on the quality of life you want. If you want a long healthy and independent life then make the choices that will get you there. You have to look at what you can do to live a longer, better life and stay healthy.

Making healthy lifestyle choices,
Getting certain screening tests, and
Managing disease conditions

Are just three of the important steps you can take to lead a healthier life.

Now that you know you may be of living longer – You will have the Time!

Then it is time to look at improving the quality of that life. This brings us to the issues of education and money.

Most of us have grown accustom to the notion that we will have a working life of at least forty years but as the world continues to change and new economic systems emerge we will find that our working years will be cut short.

Employers will be looking to younger workers and technology which will force you out.

In order to remind competitive you need to start now to improve your educational abilities. So begin to think of ways that you can begin to improve yourself and whatever your decision be sure to add some technology training to the list, because technology is the wave of the future and drive how most things will get done.

Since your working days will be shorter and you’ll be living longer then it is critical that you do all you can today to generate the wealth you will need for your retirement years. If you haven’t started planning already, it’s more critical than ever to start now. Because as most of our older folks are finding out the Bahamas is not a very friendly place if you are sick, old, and broke.

They are finding out that those who do not create the future they want will have to endure the future they get.

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