New policies needed

I have been writing and talking about retirement for over ten years and not much has happened politically during this time. Governments have been content to continue handing out pensions and collecting superannuation levies from those still working. There has been much soul-searching over the inadequacies of retirement homes and the recent Royal Commission in Australia has produced a massive report on the issues and made substantial recommendations to improve the experiences of the aged and frail who occupy these establishments. It is to be hoped that the necessary changes are made and that they are maintained. But as many of the retirement ‘homes’ are owned and run by private companies it is likely that the drive to produce a profit will win out over the need for worthwhile change.

All the debate and anguish over the plight of the occupants of the retirement homes, the demand for more such places and the annual political argument over what is an adequate old- age pension and the size of the superannuation levy, ignore the underlying issue – the year-on-year steady increase in the percentage of the population who are retired. This a new situation. Previously, in developed countries, the gap between stopping work and death, was relatively short, and mostly less than 10 years. The retired demographic has changed remarkably in the past half century so that most of us can look forward to living a further quarter of our lifetime after finishing work. Western governments have yet to acknowledge and come to terms with this major change in society. Compare this change with what would have happened if there had been an equivalent extension in the length of childhood!

There are many aspects involved in the change to the length of retirement apart from the provision of adequate care for the frail and infirm. Most retired people are in good health and the question is: how should, or could, they be occupied during this long time? This is not being addressed or even considered by governments. It should not be left to voluntary organisations or cruise companies, this situation needs the development of appropriate and clear policies.