Psychological effects of disengagement from a work life and the transition to retirement are discussed. These effects include partial identity disruption, decision paralysis, diminished self trust, experience of a post retirement void, the search for meaningful engagement in society, development of a retirement/life structure, the confluence of…

The relationships among mattering, purpose in life, depression, and wellness among older adults were explored. Mattering, purpose in life, and depression accounted for 78% of the wellness variance. Older adults perceived that they mattered most to their children and friends. The importance of mattering when counseling older adults is discussed.…

Residents (N = 142) of a southeastern, upscale retirement community completed measures of wellness, perceived stress, and mattering. Participants scored higher than did a group of adults under age 60 on 4 of 5 second-order wellness factors and Total Wellness, with medium to large effect sizes. Implications for counselors are discussed. (Contains 2…

The housing industry for the elderly has changed from being primarily the effort of charitable organizations to include a large number of for-profit businesses. Psychologists interested in dealing with this industry will have to be aggressive. Important considerations include the following: (1) managers make decisions about finances, products, and…

The purpose of this article is to provide employment counselors an overview of the growth in the number of older workers in the U.S. Various demographic, employment, and career development trends are presented. Specific suggestions for counseling older workers are offered. Readers are directed to a number of high-quality online resources for older…

Few individuals have given careful thought to what their lives might be like after they retire. Although some may have considered the financial implications of living on a fixed or limited income, most have not considered the social and emotional impact of leaving work. Career practitioners can play an important role in facilitating the transition…

This digest focuses on some special concerns of the elderly such as employment issues, retirement, problems of aging, and continuing education, and discusses ways counselors can help. (BH)

This training syllabus on counseling older adults is written for educators and counselors, and can be used as a single course syllabus, for inservice training, or to supplement existing courses. The book is divided into 11 training modules, each of which includes counseling implications and strategies, concrete classroom activities, suggested…

This document consists of the third section of a book of readings on issues related to adult career development. The six chapters in this third section focus on target populations. "Career Counseling Women: Principles, Procedures, and Problems" (Louise Fitzgerald) reviews major approaches to career development and demonstrates ways in which they…

A number of factors and trends contribute to an increase in older adults in the workforce including demographics, financial concerns, changing concepts of retirement, longer and healthier life spans, and demand for the knowledge and skills possessed by the current generation of older workers. Careers are now considered to be more fluid, nonlinear…