At Seniors Helping Seniors, we work with many individuals who are newly retired and looking for purposeful engagement. There are many ways to stay active after retirement and engaging in activities that give a sense of purpose is so important, especially after retirement. As part of a presentation series about retirement, we will be talking to local councils on aging, rotary clubs, and other organizations about sharing resources for retired individuals.

In our presentation ‘We Are All Still Here for A Reason, Creating Purpose in Your Retirement’, Doug Peck, Director of Community Partnerships, explores the changing face of retirement and discuss some ways to stay engaged and find purpose in retirement. This presentation offers a look into the physical and cognitive benefits of remaining socially connected and engaged. We look at many aspects of retirement, but our main emphasis is on part-time work and a re-framing of caregiving and companionship as a wonderful opportunity to feel a sense of purpose and personal fulfillment.

Often when talking to our caregivers, we ask what inspired them to work as caregivers and companions after retirement. The most common response we get is this work gives them a sense of purpose and increases their social engagement; which often is starkly decreased after retirement. There are many resources available to people after retirement and research shows that staying connected and engaged with others is really important for brain health.