Life Transitions and the Impact of Aging

Any life transition impacts the people who undergo it, as well as their families and friends. Those people may experience benefits or drawbacks, and the effects can differ from one person or group of people to another. Silva (n.d.) defined life transitions as moments of change in our lives that signify the beginning of something different (para. 1). They can be both thrilling and tiring simultaneously, whether they involve embarking on a new career, moving to a new location, or undergoing significant life events. Some examples of significant life events are divorce, the birth of a child, or the transition from one life phase to another, such as from adulthood to becoming a senior or older-adult. These changes can elicit a range of feelings, from fear and happiness to joy and sorrow.

According to Kaplan (2023), transitioning into late life involves changes such as retiring, moving, and coping with loss. Retirement has varying effects on physical and mental well-being, and a third of retirees face challenges. Adequate preparation and support during retirement can make a difference. Kaplan continued that bereavement affects older people’s social connections, status, and death rates.

Many different circumstances can impact a person’s path to retirement. Social and economic circumstances have a large impact on the ability of one to retire, reflecting positions of privilege and vulnerability in society. Often, retirement is portrayed with the assumption that older adults have held stable employment with benefits over the years, which allows one to retire with a pension. However, many individuals have different life experiences, with less stable, long-term employment that does not provide a pension. For these individuals, retirement looks very different.

Many women also experience retirement differently, especially if they are from the generation where it was more common to stay home to raise children. This life path does not provide a pension for women, thus leaving them in a more vulnerable position. National Council on Aging (2022) summarized the unique challenges women experience, stating, “They make less money than men; they often work part time, take time away from work to care for children and aging parents, save less money, work in fields with fewer employer-sponsored retirement benefits, have more chronic diseases with their related costs, and feel less comfortable discussing finances” (para. 1). Women are often more vulnerable in retirement and may be dependent on their spouse’s pension. Divorce rates may also place women in a precarious situation with financial insecurity.

Newcomers to Canada may also face more challenging retirement paths, as they may have spent fewer years in the workplace, which leads to a lower pension amount. Working for years as a temporary foreign worker, which does not offer benefits, and being employed in lower income brackets can also lead to a lower pension. These are a few examples of the varied retirement experiences. As a CSW, it is important to consider individual circumstances and challenge assumptions about retirement, as people face a variety of experiences.

Another important factor to consider in retirement years is social isolation, loss, and grief. Social isolation is defined by the Government of Canada (2024) as “a situation in which someone has infrequent and/or poor-quality contact with other people. A person who is socially isolated typically has few social contacts or social roles, and few or no mutually rewarding relationships.” For many, retirement can lead to an experience of social isolation due to the death of a spouse and friends, a lack of community that is often provided in the workplace, and a change in social standing.

The changes brought about in retirement can also lead to loneliness, described by the Government of Canada (2024) as occurring “when your social relationships do not live up to your expectations, so it can be experienced even when a person has adequate social networks.” Loss is experienced at all stages of life, but often is compounded as people age. Retirement, aging, and higher amounts of loss can be very detrimental to older adults’ mental health. Being aware of the stages of grief and loss and how it is experienced is very important when supporting and working with older adults.

Experiencing sleep disturbances and anxiety is common after a loss; persistent and overwhelming grief is classified as pathological grief.

Grief and loss are very emotional times for people, who often require additional support systems to aid in expressing and processing emotions. When older adults are isolated, these big events can lead to depression and anxiety. As many older adults may have lost their spouse, good friends, and other family members. Exploring what family and friend networks they have and supporting them is a key role of a CSW. Being able to notice signs of grief, loneliness, and loss is very important, especially when working with older generations who may express their emotions differently. Assessing what relationships and friendships the client has in their day-to-day life is very important when assessing well-being.

Friendships and relationships are important across all stages of life. For older adults, these relationships may undergo rapid change due to death of a loved one, going into care homes, and physical distance from family members. Another area of change may occur in a person’s intimate relationships. With regards to sexual intimacy, Kaplan (2023) pointed out that getting older can result in disorders and emotional shifts that can get in the way of intimacy. This can include losing partners, dealing with vascular issues, diabetes, arthritis, and medications. Changes that come with age, lower levels of sex hormones, and hesitance to talk about experiences can also affect intimacy. Nevertheless, many older adults maintain healthy sexual relationships.

Other typical health issues that come with aging are hearing problems, eye cataracts, back pain, depression, and memory loss. Physical and social environments and individual traits influence the ability to stay healthy during aging, and adopting healthy behaviours can help to prevent chronic diseases and boost physical strength.

The World Health Organization (2022) noted that personality traits, age discrimination, and the surroundings in which older individuals exist all influence their varied experiences and requirements. Health disparities and age discrimination must be tackled within a holistic public health approach that encompasses the multi-faceted impact of aging and how it is experienced across the intersectionality of race, class, and gender.

References

Government of Canada. (2024, December 12). Social isolation of seniors: A focus on new immigrant and refugee seniors in Canada. Employment and Social Development Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/seniors-forum-federal-provincial-territorial/social-isolation-immigrant-refugee.html

Kaplan, D. B. (2023). Effects of life transitions on older adults. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/en-ca/professional/geriatrics/social-issues-in-older-adults/effects-of-life-transitions-on-older-adults

National Council on Aging. (2022, March 22). Women and retirement: When they retire, how they plan, and where help is needed. https://www.ncoa.org/article/women-and-retirement-when-they-retire-how-they-plan-and-where-help-is-needed/

Silva, J. (n.d.). Life transitions. MyWellbeing. https://mywellbeing.com/mental-health-dictionary/life-transitions#

World Health Organization. (2022, October 1). Ageing and health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health