Someone once said, "Some people spend more time planning a two-week vacation than they do their retirement." One of the key challenges of retirement is knowing what to do with your time. Dignity Foundation reveals how we can help you live with ‘dignity’ in your silver years.

“Love and care are necessary, but what senior citizens require most today are funds to meet their needs of food, clothes, shelter and medicines. If they have their own money, their children won’t neglect or throw them out. Nowadays, an income of Rs 5,000 a month is barely enough to live decently. Don’t organise charities. Just give us a chance to earn a decent living.” Just a sample letter that floods Dignity Foundation….

Retirement is a passage from one lifestyle to another. One way to think of the term "retire" is by placing a hyphen between the 'e' and the 't' and creating a new term—re-tire: to put on new treads. Those who take the voyage seriously and do the right kind of planning usually have a smoother trip and more fun. Chances are you've had little free time or the inclination over the last 20 to 30 years to take stock of your life. To avoid the "I wish I had or had not..." syndrome that happens to so many older people, take time now to determine what you want to do with your years ahead.

Yes, you still need a decent income to afford life's necessities and luxuries. But you should also focus on personal satisfaction, developing your talents and contributing to society. Change is never without stress and anxiety. Talk to your spouse, children, friends, relatives and colleagues about the changes you're going through, and seek their assistance and support. Remember when you were young, how excited you were to be part of the action and how great it was when someone older helped you along? Now it's your turn to team up with younger people. They need your help, and you need them too. Don't limit your thinking to only full-time employment. Consider consulting, volunteering, part-time work, temporary work and self-employment as viable career options. A combination of several of the above may be the best option for realising your financial goals.

Learn to adjust and change. Understand that you've become set in your ways and how this type of behaviour often conflicts with the times. Your post-50 years can be the most enjoyable and rewarding if you have the right attitude. Fight the battles you can win, forget the rest and use your time where it counts most: Enjoy your family, help others through your work and become the best person you can be.

Dignity Second Careers was started as a separate division of the Foundation with the objective of enabling people over 50 to seek a productive occupation of their choice that would enrich their lives after retirement. During the first career, the concept of job satisfaction may get overshadowed by other pressures and compulsions. Retirement is yet another daunting situation for the person who has been working for long years. The transition from a busy working life to retirement can be traumatic. Productivity to keep your mind and body agile is what Dignity Second Careers is all about. It means finding employment to suit one's particular needs in terms of time, interest and compensation.

UTI Bank was among the first to take up the proposal by setting up a Senior Desk in its branches for spreading awareness on the Senior Citizens’ ID cards issued by Dignity for the Maharashtra govt., and to apprise the Bank’s customers of the various services and schemes offered for seniors like Privilege accounts, higher interest rates for deposits, etc. This arrangement has been mutually beneficial to both UTI and DF members, converting it into a relationship.

One of the NGOs in Mumbai, Shree Mumbai Patidar Samaj, needed a manager with a strong accounting background who was also experienced in finalisation of accounts. DF had sent 4 candidates with reasonable accounting experience. However, the NGO was not satisfied. Thus, it is not roses all the way – it’s an on-going challenge to match the expectations of the employers with the available pool of retired seniors who have approached us for a placement in second careers. The list is increasing day by day and it’s a daunting task to find an appropriate opening that is mutually satisfying.

It was precisely for these reasons that we at DF Second Careers, decided to have a half day orientation programme for familiarising the applicants with the objective and mission of the Foundation, as also to orient them to the gaps between their own requirements, capabilities and expectations vis-a-vis the current market requirements, and the small niche which needs to be created for such experienced people having completed their own span of active working life. Many of the candidates had never heard of Dignity and its activities in the area of productive ageing for senior citizens. They needed to be prepared for what was the reality and where they could fit in today’s world of fast paced developments.

We also needed to conduct a preliminary assessment on their personality type, their inclination and basic capabilities. This was done with the help of some psychometric tests conducted by our psychologist. Some of them required to be counselled to understand their own needs and abilities. The choice of the right employer/employee for the right job, the place of work, distance from one’s residence and timings are some of the factors we have to bear in mind before matching applicants to prospective employers. Dignity was approached by a corporate with placements for 100 candidates in the 50+ group for customer care through phone banking, an area generally filled by youngsters. However, the company was willing to offer shorter shifts at convenient times on an experimental basis to see the impact of such a move on the younger group that had a high rate of attrition, apart from providing an opportunity for exploring the productivity of seniors. “The process of selection is on and shortly these placements will be in place for a decent remuneration”, says M Subramaniam, who coordinates the second career options.

Role of Media

Interviews with leading dailies and magazines evoke interest in all segments of society resulting in fresh enquiries from prospective employers and expectant candidates. Recently articles carried by Mumbai Mirror and DNA flooded us with applications. Mr V, a commerce graduate with tally experience under his belt, was interviewed and found most suitable. Both the company and the candidate are happy with each other as well as the Foundation. We take pride in making a difference in the life of seniors by paving the way for financial security, a sign of independence, self sufficiency and confidence. Mr V is now a changed man with vigour and enthusiasm to face yet another day, in a productive and useful manner.

Our focus is to create awareness of the scope of utilising the talent, knowledge and capabilities of a group of people who, for want of opportunities, existing government laws, norms for formal employment, are unable to make their ageing productive. It may or may not fetch high salaries or the comforts and perks one was used to. Today there are sections of society that cries for help, guidance, counseling, mentoring, and coaching skills of experienced seniors. Money may not be the ‘be all and end all’ of our needs. The satisfaction and joy of helping, giving and sharing whatever one has accumulated over one’s lifespan, could be passed on for posterity in one way or the other. It’ll guarantee happiness, increase their own self worth and give the peace they crave for. The realisation of their ability to do so would make them proud of themselves and set an example for others to follow.