Prepare To Retire and Enjoy Your Retirement -UEW Retirees Urged

Staff of the University of Education, Winneba have been urged to take retirement planning seriously. This came to light during the 2017 annual Retirees Workshop for Junior, Senior Staff and Senior Members, who will be leaving the services of the University in September, 2017.

The workshop addressed issues such as ‘Preparing for Retirement’, ‘Life in Retirement’, ‘Managing Health in Retirement’ and ‘Retirement and Medication’.

Presenting on the topic, ‘Preparing for Retirement, the Head of Department for Psychology and Education, Rev. Dr. Kwesi Nkum-Wilson stated that most people never thought of retirement when they start working, hence they are not able to make the right decisions concerning it.

According to him, four crucial things to consider for an individual’s retirement are a Dwelling House, Stable family, Children who are out of school or at the tertiary level and modest savings.

Lack of any of these, creates a serious problem for the retired person, he said. He remarked that retirement is a phase in life and not a crisis situation. Just like a child moves from the adolescent stage to adulthood, retirement is supposed to be a smooth transition if one really plans it well.

Additionally, it is important to do a checklist on oneself by using the following;

• At what age will I retire
• Where will I live when I retire
• When to start a family and what number of family
• How will I sustain my family when I retire (consider Passive Income Generation)
• What kind of lifestyle do I hope to lead after retirement

Before retirement, one needs to build social networks, engage in voluntary activities, church or political activities and locate old friends. Humans are Psycho (Mind) Somatic (Body) Pneumatic (Spirit) beings and therefore every aspect of our personality must be well nurtured before we retire.

He concluded that retirement is more desirable than dying on the job, therefore prepare to retire and enjoy your retirement.

In ‘Managing Health in Retirement’, the Director of the University Health Services, Dr. Mrs. Beth Offei-Awuku urged retirees to evaluate their lives health goals and set new ones in order to know which area to work on and how far they want to go. In her words “Whatever health goal you set, you can achieve it in order to live a healthy life before and after retirement.”

She said that retirement is not the end of one’s life but is the rest of the years ahead of you that you have to plan for. Any positive change towards one’s health has good dividend so it is not too late to pick up good habits and learn about one’s health and set new health goals.

Dr. Offei-Awuku emphasized monitoring one’s eating habits and exercising regularly. She continued that eating breakfast within two hours of waking up from bed is crucial. “If you will miss any meal in the day, it should not be breakfast,” she said. She added that exercising regularly at least five times a week and having enough rest is important for a healthy life.

She encouraged the retirees to set goals on their social habits and reduce the negative social habits like drinking, excessive emotions, anger, smoking amongst others. She noted that “If you have been labeled with high blood pressure, sugar level or any disease, the doctors can guide you on what do or even refer you to other specialists for help.”

She added that regular hospital checkups should be practiced so that ‘your health doesn’t take you by surprise’.

A Clinical Psychologist and Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Education, Mrs. Christina Ammah, during her presentation on, 'Is there life After Retirement' commented that those with a positive outlook live longer. Retirement poses challenging questions like;

• Who am I
• Do I matter
• Do I have a focus
• Am I competent
• How should I spend my time

She noted that Retirement is both an ending and the beginning of a new life since it is retirement from work and not retirement from life. These changes affect our spouses, children, colleagues and even friends and every aspect of the individual’s life.

She continued that a positive outlook about retirement helps you to live longer. Therefore it is important to have a positive attitude, take stock of your successes, be optimistic and build social networks during retirement.

She concluded that an individual's choices and attitudes during retirement can make a difference in one's life.

Pharmacist at the University Health Services, Pharm. Foster Asante stated that the rationale use of medicines is everybody’s responsibility. He made this remark during his presentation on Retirement and Medication.

For instance the irrational use of medicines could be failure to prescribe in accordance with clinical guidelines, inappropriate self-medication, and overuse of injections verses oral formations amongst others.

These have dire consequences including morbidity and mortality particularly for childhood infections and chronic diseases, significant patient harm in terms of poor patient outcomes and adverse drug reactions as well as overtreatment of mild cases.

He cautioned retirees to seek medicines or medical facilities from the right facilities, stop shopping around for medical services, do regular light exercises and take lots of fluids daily.

The forum ended with questions and contributions from members present.

In attendance at the workshop were the Deputy Registrar for Human Resource, Mrs. Christie Okae -Anti, and some Heads of Department.

Source: Media Relations Office