The Retirement Nation is a diverse group in the UK, but they are united in wanting to be recognised for the part they play, and the contribution they have made over their working lives and continue to make in retirement.

They don’t want to be simply dismissed as old or ‘past it’ – as they might have seen their parents and/or grandparents treated in previous years.

Respect

The Retirement Nation do not believe UK society treats retired people well. Interestingly, this belief is stronger amongst those who are still working but approaching

retirement, with 39% saying society treats retired people badly. But it seems the reality isn’t as bad as they perceive, as only 30% of retired people share the same view.

This observation is shaped by living in a society driven by media obsession with youth and good looks, where high-profile people – especially women – are considered past their ‘sell by’ date at around 50. Perhaps this is because the UK is different to other cultures – such as some Asian ones – where the elder population is held in higher regard.

“One third of retired people don’t think society treats them very well”

The Retirement Nation is asking for some respect and this is revealed in the names they would choose to describe themselves. Of those retired, almost one in three (32%) want to be described as ‘retired’, and almost another third (31%) would want to be described as a ‘senior citizen’. Our survey shows they don’t want to be called anything clichéd or easily ridiculed. In contrast, those who are still working displayed slightly more appetite for ‘wacky’ titles such as ‘grey panther’ and ‘silver surfer’.

There was, however, a resounding rejection of the more traditional – and some would argue, insulting – titles. Only 2% of people were happy to be described as ‘OAPs’, and only 1% described themselves as ‘old’.

Pastimes and activities

Go back a generation and retirement was thought of as the last few years of life, living a sedentary existence. But this has now changed. To help the Retirement Nation, we need to understand how they spend their time and how they contribute to society.

Generally, our research shows that retirement is viewed as a positive time with retirees carrying out a wide range of activities. However, their time could be described as ‘disjointed’, with an hour or two spent on one activity and an hour or two on others.

Watching television is the most popular activity with almost two thirds (65%) of retired people watching more than 10 hours a week, which is, on average, an hour and a half a day. And, 95% of retirees spend time reading.

But this does not mean they are inactive. Two thirds (67%) indulge in sporting activities, 93% in hobbies, and 10% undertake adult education classes.

Family and friends are important to this group. They spend on average five and a half hours each week socialising with family and friends, and another two and a half hours talking on the phone with them.

Those who describe themselves as retired (as opposed to still working) do little part-time work, with only 9% saying they work and, on average, for just half an hour a week. But this does not mean they do not contribute to society. Over a third (36%) look after grandchildren. And 36% undertake some charitable or voluntary work, contributing on average around two and a half hours a week.

For Chapter 3 and more on the pressures facing the Retirement Nation please read more here.

For the complete Retirement Nation report please download Our Retirement Nation 2011 (1.9mb)

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