The aim of the current study was to examine mental health outcomes in retired women and determine whether relationships existed among mental health outcomes, sociodemographic characteristics, and type of retirement (i.e., voluntary or forced). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 women ages 55 and older residing in five southeastern states. Women had retired at least part-time from working outside of the home. Sociodemographic variables, diagnosis of depression, diagnosis of cognitive impairment, and health-related quality of life were assessed. Women with forced retirement had worse mental health compared to those who retired voluntarily. Minority women had higher rates of forced retirement compared with White women. Poorer mental health outcomes for women with forced retirement suggest the need for careful consideration of this transition as a socially determined health factor for retired women, especially minority women. Clinicians need to assess women for mental health indicators during the transition to retirement and provide educational and therapeutic resources to promote mental health during the transition from working life to retirement. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(7), 37-45.].
Given the complex needs of the aging population, nurse educators must prepare future registered nurses to help older adults remain safe and healthy in their homes. This article describes partnerships between a school of nursing and low-income senior housing providers to develop new, high-impact community-based learning experiences. Baccalaureate nursing students conducted home visits in low-income senior housing communities and engaged in a research study to quantify activities conducted by students and the impact the home visits had on client personal health goal attainment.
A record number of women are going through the major life transition of retirement. The purpose of the current study was to explore women's perceptions of retirement with the goals of better understanding important patterns of response regarding retirement transitioning and to inform nurses on how to assist clients who are anticipating or engaging in the retirement transition. A sample population of 170 retired women was recruited using convenience sampling from community settings within six southeastern U.S. states. Participants expressed their perceptions of retirement through written responses to open-ended questions. Content analysis revealed the following themes:
Love It/Happy
;
Unhappy/Regrets
;
So Much Time, So Little (money, resources, etc.)
;
Searching
;
Busy
;
Relief/Freedom
;
Giving: For Me and Thee
;
Adequate Resources
;
Creating Your Own Structure
; and
Positive Attitude
. Careful assessment for health changes, promotion of positive coping skills, and provision of educational planning and therapeutic resources to women who are transitioning to retirement should assist women toward healthy and successful retirements. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 45
(4), 31–39.]
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.