Stages of Retirement

(Robert Atchley)

Submitted by:
Submitted to:
Vitasta
Dr. Sarita Saini
L-2020-CS-172-D
 Introduction

Retirement isn't just one phase

of life but multiple phases,
especially with today's
increased life expectancy and
retirements that often last for
20 years or more.

Each phase has its own rewards,

as well as financial and
emotional challenges. 
 Retirement is often
viewed as an "event"
when retirement is
actually both a
process (requiring
planning and
adjustment) and a life
stage (lasting for
multiple years).
In the 1970s, the late sociologist Robert
Atchley described a more elaborate six-
phase process.

While not everyone will experience all six of

those phases, they can provide a useful
framework for thinking about retirement.
 6 phases of
Retirement
Pre-retirement

Termination Retirement

Retirement Disenchantmen
routine t

Reorientation
 Phase 1: Pre-Retirement

The phase prior to the actual retirement

experience usually involves

Disengagement Planning for

from the what retirement
workplace. will entail.
 Phase 2: Retirement

When a person "retires" and therefore, no longer participates in paid

employment, they frequently take one of three possible paths.

The Honeymoon Immediate

Path Retirement routine

Rest and
Relaxation
 The Honeymoon Path

The "honeymoon" path is Men and women become very

characterized by feeling and busy doing many of the leisure
acting as if one is on vacation activities they never had time for
indefinitely. previously, especially travel.

Retirees start
going
Right after through their Doing house
retirement, bucket lists. projects,
yes, that is gardening or
perhaps the creating art is
sweetest time another fun of
of life. life. 
 Immediate Retirement Routine

The "immediate retirement

routine" path is adopted by These individuals easily
those who already had a full establish comfortable, yet
and active schedule in busy schedules soon after
addition to their retirement.
employment.
 Rest and Relaxation

The "rest and

relaxation" path is
described as a period Persons who have had
of very low activity as very busy careers with
compared to the limited time to
"honeymoon" path. themselves frequently
choose to do very little in
their early retirement
years.

However, activity levels do increase after a

few years of rest and relaxation.
 Phase 3: Disenchantment

Maybe there are more

This usually happens days on which they wake No idea – more
once people run out up and ask themselves precisely, running
of things to do. what they are going to do out of ideas.
today?

A person may miss the feelings of

productivity they experienced when
working.
A significant disruption in the retirement
experience, such as the death of a spouse or an
undesired move.

That is the point when they should go to the next step and not stay
with those empty and negative feelings.
 Phase 4: Re-orientation
During this stage, retirees
need both time and What is my
continuous efforts to go Who purpose at Am I
am I? this point? still
through. They should useful?
answer questions such as

They need to rethink what kind of life they want to

live and need to find purposeful activities which bring
meaning to their lives.
Becoming more involved in community activities, taking up a new hobby
or relocating to a more affordable setting may contribute to this "second
chance" at retirement.
A common goal of reorientation is to design a retirement lifestyle that is
satisfying and enjoyable.
 Phase 5: Retirement
Routine
Mastering a comfortable and rewarding retirement routine
is the ultimate goal of retirement.

Some adults are able to do this soon after they leave

employment, while others take longer, only finding their
way after years of extended leisure or a period of
disenchantment.

Once a fulfilling and comfortable retirement routine has

been found, this phase of retirement can last for many
years.
 Phase 6: Termination of Retirement

Many people die during the

previous phase of retirement.
Some others may develop illness
or disability, which transfers them
from the retirement role to a "sick
and disabled role" (Atchley, 2000).

Loss of the retirement role also happens gradually.

• Dependency due to illness and

disability
• Losing finances to the point that
the individual becomes dependent
on someone else. 
 Conclusion

When planning for

retirement, remember
that the retirement
process requires more
than attention to one's
bank account.

Retirement is a stage of
It is an active phase of
life that could, for
life that elders must
some, last anywhere
work at to achieve
from 5 to as many as
success.
20 years.
Our society has consistently
emphasized getting people to
retirement age rather than
helping them enjoy their
retirement.

The idea is to not just retire

from something but retire to
something.
 References:

Atchley, R.C. (2000). Social Forces and Aging (9th

Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
https://
www.investopedia.com/terms/p/phases-retirement.
asp
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/85213972.pdf
Thankyou for listening!