Contents
Imprint
Foreword
Assumptions about being old
About the authors
Dr Gwilym Wyn Roberts
Robert Workman
Introduction
Why write this book?
Why is this book needed?
Who is this book for?
What this book aims to achieve
How is this book structured?
Why the focus on transitional retirement and beyond?
A personal context
A professional context
Professionals as retirement coaches – coaching ageing adults facing changes in life
Chapter 1 Ageing and retirement
Retirement
Activity, occupation and retirement transition
Pause point – case study
Perspectives on ageing
Pause point
Inequalities and perceptions
Pause point
Life stage and the midlife transition
Pause point – case study
Chapter 2 Appreciating transitions
Pause point
Appreciative inquiry model of practice – The 4 D Model
Appreciative inquiry and problem solving – the paradox
Positive Psychology
The relationship between appreciative inquiry and positive psychology
The foundation of appreciative learning and practice – the constructionist and the positive principles
The constructionist principles in action
Pause point and Terry’s dilemma
The ageing adult and the constructionist principle
Recognising the constructionist principle
Appreciative language
Recognising the positive principle
Case study applying the 4 D Model
Applying the principles of the 4 D Model of appreciative inquiry to Paul
Possible solutions – adapting and evaluating
Pause point
Chapter 3 Meaningful, creative activity and occupation of choice
Ageing and creativity
Pause point
Theories of ageing
Disengagement theory
Activity theory
Continuity theory
Pause point
Ageing adults and the state pension system
Ageing adults and the Structured Dependency theories
Pause point – case study
Active ageing
Pause point
Pause point
Spirituality and ageing adults
Spirituality and religion
The mind-body-spirit paradigm
Chapter 4 Marital status, gender, sexual orientation, occupational engagement and retirement transition
Gender
Pause point
Pause point
Reflective case study
Pause point
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ageing (LGBT)
Volunteering
Pause point and case study
Chapter 5 Mindfulness and lifestyle redesign in ageing adults
Appreciating mindfulness in practice
What is mindfulness?
The mindful retirement coach
Mindfulness and improved perception
Pause point
Improved reflection and empathy
Pause point
Being responsive
Pause point
Building active client engagement, motivation and resourcefulness
Bringing compassion to practice
Being person-centred
Pause point and case study
Mindful potential
Chapter 6 Appreciative inquiry – health and well-being through occupation
Applying appreciative inquiry to transitional retirement
Appreciative inquiry in practice – asking the appropriate questions
Pause point
Pause point for the ageing adults
What does appreciative inquiry envisage
Challenging the appreciative inquiry 4 D Model
Chapter 7 Person-centred transitional retirement coaching
The retirement coach as a facilitator and enabler
Retirement coaching as a way to establish social worth
Case study
Pause point
The ‘3 Eye Model’ – an innovative framework for retirement coaching
Pause point
The 3 Eyes of the professional and/or retirement coach
Pause point
Unconditional positive regard
Awareness of the present, past and future
An unlimited eye – uncompromised and responsive
Pause point
The 3 D (Dimensional) varifocal lens
The motivational eye
Making meaning
Accommodating a spiritual context
Eliciting resilience and resourcefulness
Working with compassion
Working with dignity
Pause point
Pause point
Chapter 8 Final thoughts
References
Bibliography
Imprint
All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved.
© 2019 novum publishing
ISBN print edition: 978-3-99064-564-2
ISBN e-book: 978-3-99064-565-9
Editor: B.Ed (Hons) Julie Hoyle
Cover images: Benjavisa Ruangvaree | Dreamstime.com
Coverdesign, Layout & Type: novum publishing
www.novum-publishing.co.uk
Foreword
“Aging, in the sense of becoming a whole person,
is not the same as growing old.”
(Moore, p17)
Assumptions about being old
My family members have been and continue to be amazing achievers in life, but also in retirement. One person is a professional singer, and though she does not perform any longer is still an active choir member and manages the soprano section. Another family member, a former professor and minister, has continued to study and research in libraries, attends every concert he can, and keeps up his lifelong journaling. Yet another, also a retired professor, continued to work in the academic setting well past her 70th birthday and still runs (years later) workshops for staff members at her retirement centre. Our eldest family member, though now very ill, continued with multiple book clubs, chaired the resident committee that supported employees of her retirement community, read two major newspapers every day, and served a couple of stints as her alumna sorority chapter president, all between ages 82 and 88 (Wilson 2009).
About the authors
Dr Gwilym Wyn Roberts
EdD, MA, Diploma in Applied Psychosynthesis,
Diploma in the College of Occupational Therapists
Gwilym has worked in health and social care practice and education for over 30 years. He was Director of Occupational Therapy and Senior Lecturer at Cardiff University until 2016, when he retired from full-time paid employment at the age of 55. He has a Masters degree in Further and Higher Education from the Institute of Education in London and a Professional Doctorate from the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. His passion for research is in the areas of appreciative inquiry and positive psychology. He is particularly interested in ageing adults’ experience relating to compassion and dignity and in 2015 co-authored a book entitled ‘Appreciative Healthcare Practice – a guide to compassionate person-centred care’. He works as a healthcare educational consultant and a retirement coach and now sits on the Wales Crown Prosecution Hate Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Panel. Gwilym now embraces the time to also engage in a wide variety of creative and recreational occupations of choice.
Robert Workman
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy,
MSc Ageing Studies
Robert qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2003, graduating from Cardiff University with a first class degree. In 2011 he gained a Masters degree in Ageing Studies from Swansea University. Throughout his career as an occupational therapist working for the NHS in his local hospitals, Robert has maintained a special interest in the role of meaningful activity in the development of the independence and well-being of ageing adults. His MSc research explored the role of meaningful activity in the retirement transition process. Whilst working as an Associate Lecturer at Cardiff University, Robert and Gwilym discovered a joint interest in this field. Robert is currently an occupational therapy manager employed by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board in South Wales. He engages in a variety of meaningful activities and is already planning for his retirement in 20 years’ time!