PERSPECTIVES AND MEANING OF RETIREMENT AMONGST PRE-RETIREES IN SINGAPORE – A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Aim: To understand the perceptions and meaning of retirement amongst pre-retirees of the lower- and middle-income group in Singapore. Background: The latest research paper published on the perspectives and preparations for retirement of the general Singapore working population was in 1999 (Mehta, 1999). No studies were done specifically for people who are about to reach the retirement age nor the lower- and middle-income group locally. Methods: This study employs the use of a descriptive qualitative design, conducting individual in-depth face-to-face or telephone interviews pre-retirees of 55 years old and above. Participants are gathered through an exponential discriminative snowball sampling. Thematic Analysis is done after data saturation has reached. Findings: Four themes emerged – Blurring of the line between Retirement and Work, Interplay of Circumstance, Image of Retirement, and Resolution – Facing the Future. Conclusion: We found that the meaning of retirement has evolved and the decision to retire is a result of the interplay of various circumstances. Image of retirement is more negative with regards to physical and cognitive health. Despite all these, our older adults have their means of dealing with retirement. Implications: The results of this study also suggest more to be done regarding access to the health check services and the range of services for the sampled population. Appropriate patient education regarding health and ageing, or referrals to allied health professionals will allow us to deliver a more wholistic patient-centred care beyond the clinical grounds and out to the community.25/05/2019