Get fit for retirement

A new South Australian study has found little change in most people’s diet and exercise after retirement – pointing to the need for positive lifestyle choices during your working life to maximise long-term health outcomes.

Closing the retirement gender gap

The latest HILDA survey shows that women retire around one year earlier than men, but with significantly less superannuation to fall back on.

The golden age of the silver years?

More Australians than ever before are enjoying long, healthy, financially secure retirements, although the typical Australian is now retiring about five years later than they did in 2003.

The evolution of retirement living

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey shows that living circumstances in retirement have changed over time, but social connections are generally strong.

Retirees have never been wealthier, except for those that aren’t

Many Australian retirees have never been wealthier or healthier or had better living standards than they do now, but others are still being left behind.

The end of retirement?

The decision to retire is no longer driven purely by personal preference or age alone but increasingly shaped by policy, housing wealth, super balances and whether someone can afford to stop working.

The drinks don’t work

Retirees show more signs of depression than older people still in work, according to a major US study, but while binge drinkers are more likely to be depressed, those who drink in moderation have fewer depression symptoms than people who don’t drink at all.

Is this all there is?

Australians are retiring later than ever, but extended life expectancy means that a new sense of purpose is required alongside financial security to make the next stage of life worth living.

Defusing the retirement time bomb

Populations are ageing around the world, not least in Australia, and so a radical rethink of retirement is required to ensure older people live better lives and societies make best use of their experience.

Social support and mental wellbeing in retirement

While retirement is a significant life event, there has been little research on whether and how social support may evolve around retirement.

Happy retirement?

A new Life Course Centre Working Paper explores the impact of retirement on different domains of life satisfaction, wellbeing and happiness.