As we grow older, we open new chapters in our lives. Some chapters we can foresee and prepare for, and others catch us off guard. For many, the increasing candles on their birthday cakes may feel like a loss of freedom. However, as technology in gerontology and general healthcare improves, so do our options as we age. In fact, retirement can be often serve as a new beginning, as many can have the option to dedicate themselves to a passion they never had the time for before. Many even take the opportunity to go back to school or start a new business.
Degrees and Second Careers
When you choose a career in your twenties — or even before, you don’t know much about yourself. It takes some people decades to even find a drive and passion in what they want to do. Luckily, it’s never too late to go back to school, especially when you no longer have the intense pressure to find something you want to do with your life.
Sometimes, a sudden end to your career may lead to surprising changes. When Theresa Turlis, a career-nurse in the critical care unit, broke her hip, she was unable to continue treating her patients. However, she found a “second life” career by pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. While taking classes, she even found a job as an assistant to lawyer who specializes in elderly abuse.
Turlis said that while “the college world seemed both foreign and intimidating” at first, online classes and helpful advisors helped her through it. Not only are online classes easily accessible to seniors who might have reservations about a commuting to classes, but they also offer an opportunity to get familiarized with technology that can impress future employers.
In this way, seniors in retirement can pursue their passion. This can range from learning a new language, getting a college degree, adopting a new craft or hobby, and even starting a new business.
The Future of Gerontology
Healthcare is adapting to better fit the needs for seniors in our community. By better evaluating the needs of older patients and changing the healthcare system to fit them, we can reach better quality of life in all stages. The Maryville School of Nursing reports that these improvements include making special space in emergency rooms for seniors who have different needs than younger patients, coordinated care for patients with more than one health challenge, and enhanced treatment for those with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Integrated healthcare is also a relatively new trend in American healthcare. Now, doctors aren’t just looking at injured or ill areas of the body, but are also considering biological, psychological, and social health — all of which are of extreme importance for seniors. Additionally, preventative healthcare can help you keep your body in top shape as you age. Eating a nutritious diet and incorporating adequate exercise into your everyday life are a big part of maintaining your health. You can even take specialized yoga classes.
New options are open to seniors everyday. While some might choose to go into retirement and live a calm life, others aren’t ready to fully retire. With online classes, second careers, and improved healthcare working to better the lives of the seniors in the U.S., there is no shortage of options. Though aging might cause you to slow down a bit, it doesn’t have to stop you from embracing life in new ways and taking on new challenges.
Brooke Faulkner is a senior rights advocate and mother of two in the Pacific Northwest. She loves spending time with friends and family at the assisted living facility near her home, and has collected more stories there than she can count.
