Abstract

Retirement is no longer simply a period of rest after decades of work it is a dynamic phase of life with opportunities for horizontal growth, health, contribution and purpose. While financial planning understandably dominates discussions of retirement readiness, an equally vital dimension is preparation for health (physical, mental and spiritual) and a purposeful life beyond professional roles. This combination results in a happy retirement. Thoughtful planning in these domains can transform retirement from a passive era into a fulfilling new chapter. Retirement is not the end of the road; it is actually the beginning of a new phase with some re-set of routines. This article looks at the physical, psychological and other changes that take place in old age and what should be done to ensure a healthy and happy phase of aging. ‘Retirement’ is generally identified with a phase of life when the person is considered to be unfit for optimum use to a public or private institution, because of his age. This myth has to be busted but, in this article, the authors are clubbing this group with other persons of similar age who need to see the transition as a new chapter in life and to make the most of it. This article focusses on the health and happiness aspects without elaborating on financial security in this age group.

• 1.   The New Map of Life; Stanford Center on Longevity; April 2022; https://longevity. stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ new-map-of-life-full-report.pdf
• 2.   World Health Organization. (2015). World Report on Ageing and Health. WHO Press; https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/ bitstreams/5174879e-b0dc-43fc-b3a8- b1db31c51d4c/content.
• 3.   Giacomo Pietro Vigezzi, Chiara Barbati, Elena Maggioni et al; Social Science & Medicine; Volume 375, June 2025, 118049.
• 4.   Barnett K, Mercer SW, Norbury M et al; Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: a cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2012 Jul 7;380(9836):37-43. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(12)60240-2. Epub 2012 May 10. PMID: 22579043.
• 5.   Sharifi M, Nodehi D, Bazgir B; Physical activity and psychological adjustment among retirees: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jan 28;23(1):194. doi: 10.1186/ s12889-023-15080-5. PMID: 36709282; PMCID: PMC9884422.
• 6.   Osoba MY, Rao AK, Agrawal SK et al; Balance and gait in the elderly: A contemporary review. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2019 Feb 4;4(1):143-153. doi: 10.1002/lio2.252. PMID: 30828632; PMCID: PMC6383322.
• 7.   Steptoe A, Deaton A, Stone AA. Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. Lancet. 2015 Feb 14;385(9968):640-648. doi: 10.1016/S0140- 6736(13)61489-0. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25468152; PMCID: PMC4339610.
• 8.   Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A et al; Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2020 Aug 8;396(10248):413-446. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)30367-6. Epub 2020 Jul 30. Erratum in: Lancet. 2023 Sep 30;402(10408):1132. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02043-3. PMID: 32738937; PMCID: PMC7392084.
• 9.   Rugnetta, Michael. “neuroplasticity”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Dec. 2025, https:// www.britannica.com/science/neuroplasticity
• 10.   Saraswati P. (2024). Psychological Wellbeing among Elderly-A Comprehensive Review. Mathews J Psychiatry Ment Health 9(1):47.