retirement and early death

S2B I knew a Headteacher who collapsed and died at his retirement do. That was so sad. My ex-HT, a keen athlete anyway and very fit, took up cycling when he retired. He was knocked off his bike in February and died at the scene.

Life is very fragile.

Thank you Soontobe for that cheerful and uplifting note on which to end the day.
I retired 5 years ago and of my contemporaries who retired at the same time we are (touch wood) all hale and hearty.
Of course the incidence of death is higher in the over 60's/ 65's, but I think this is nothing more than simple coincidence plus an admixture of urban myth.
Or perhaps it is a conspiracy by the government to keep people at work unti they are 104.

I don't know soontobe. Perhaps they would have died anyway even if they hadn't retired.
I do know from personal experience many people who have died not long before retirement (saving the government paying pensions)

Life is indeed very fragile.
Very sad for both those situations Anya.

I have been left wondering a couple of things lately. Particularly about those who have been in jobs such as teaching which can be stressful.
Have they had stress build up, and then, when they relax, it catches up with them in some way?

I probably have a couple of other questions too, but that will do for now.

WARNING

Don't read this thread if you intend to ever get out of bed again in the mornings.

For flips sake soon. Can you possibly get any more cheerful?!

We're all doomed - doomed I tell you!

That's why I started a cheese on toast thread...... We must stay positive.

At least you've got a good name stillhere. Keep yer fingers crossed.

Ignore them all S2B I can see where you're coming from and I agree. It's like a bottle of Champagne that's been shaken too much and when the cork is eventually released the POP it explodes all over the place.

Cheese on toast! I ask you

The questions I was coming to are
a. do I just happen to know more people than average who this happens to, and
b. is there anything that can be done about it? Prevention wise?

Can people be eased into retirement, and eased in someway after they have retired.
It is rather a hot topic among people I know[those age about 55-late 60s].
Many are saying that they intend to retire "gently", ie start of by going down to 4 days, then 3 days etc.

Others are saying they do not intend to retire and intend to carry on working until they are 89!

I dont know if this is all a new phenomenen, or it is just that my contemparies are coming to this stage in life.

I think it may be coincidence, some people are genetically disposed to die early and others go on until 100 ( hope so, fingers crossed.)

I was about to agree with soon actually! I know far too many people who have died not long after retirement. A very good female friend of mine died two nights ago, she retired two years ago and I have no idea if it was related, but she seemed to just give up wanting to do anything and became very apathetic. She even gave up half of her garden. I couldn't help comparing her to a lot of men I met over the years who seemed to get depressed and feel useless once they retired, rather than being positive and finding new interests. She dabbled in a few crafts, but never became seriously involved in anything. She had a heart attack. I was in shock yesterday, but now when I think back she was always drinking, and whenever we went out for lunch she always had rather a lot of wine.

Do you think that they would not have died anyway? They just happened to be retired.
The government keep increasing the age of retirement so does that then mean people will live longer.
S2B do you know many people working passed retirement who are still hail and hearty?
Friends who have already retired are living life to the full. When not helping out with DGC they are part of many groups.
With technology at there fingertips they are part of the silver revolution. Medical advances help to keep them going if not cure many age related ailments I know there are exceptions but I would say that on the whole retirees have never had it so good.
I am looking forward to it. When it eventually arrives in ten years time
The government may have prolonged my life by 6 years

Is the connection that you know/knew them ? Maybe it is nothing to do with retirement, . . . . . . .

We always remember or notice the examples which "prove a rule" but for every person who dies within 12 months of retirement, there will be one who doesn't make it that far and one who goes on for another 25 years!

It is always possible, that some of these people who have died within the year, actually retired because they had a health problem of which the rest of their acquaintances were unaware.

I used to think I was a jinx on friends, about 25 years ago I lost half a dozen in a year. I had black skirts and jackets in every conceivable length and thickness of fabric, I went to so many funerals. I had a barbecue during the summer and got a bit maudlin, I told all the friends there that I was going to get the camera so that I could have a photo of all of them before they popped their clogs. I came back with it, got them all to pose and the swines all fell down on the ground and went into death-throe spasms and refused to pose nicely! I never did get that photo - but they are all still alive! [crossfingers]

Well I've just made it through my first year of formal retirement. However, I'm so busy doing other things that its more of a mutation than a cessation of work.
Its great doing things I want to do rather than those I have to. Fingers crossed I can keep going for a long time!

I think the belief that some people - in particular, men die soon after retiring is an "urban legend" from the days when people "worked themselves into an early grave" e.g. down a mine, and life expectancy was in the 60s generally.

A very fit man, my own grandfather worked very hard all his life, retired at 65 and died 3 years later, but, being in the 1960s, he was a smoker and died of a heart attack.

So I think every person is different e.g. some people cope better with stress than others.

Good points Alea I do know a lot of people that are teachers/clergy/heavy duty manual workers. And it could just be that those types of jobs could be more susceptible? So it could be more they type of job, and I happen to know the wrong type if you see what I mean?
And very true about they could have had untold to the general public, even acquaintances, health problems.

stillhere A funny story to help the thread!

Jane10 That may be the best way to handle early retirement. Keep going at a good pace.

Cherrytree59. You could be right. That is why I wanted to start the thread really. To try and work out if I just happened to be in the wrong bubble so to speak, or if it is more widespread.
I am beginning to wonder if it is a bit of both.
Cherrytree59, there are more points in your posts that I will answer later.

Personal experience is mixed. Those diagnosed with terminal illness shortly after retirement and not having time to enjoy that life stage. Also a good many others living an active and healthy retirement. Thinking about the detail I can't see an occupational or social pattern. Noticing this some years ago we determined, as far as realistically possible, to do the things that are important to us, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant to others. Some serious some just plain daft. It was a reminder to make the most of what we have. So puzzling but also helpful. No answers to the original question. Perhaps there aren't any.

shall I change my name being newly pensioned to underthe earth or maybe pushingupdaisies...thanks for that soon..

No downtoearth!

cornergran, I am beginning to think I may end up with more questions than answers too.
May be some things are an urban legend as Grannyknot puts it, because they happen to individuals but are not widespread.

stillhere, I get your name now
Could you or can you see an occupational or social pattern at all, if you dont mind me asking?

I'm not sure that there is any correlation with death and retirement. There is more likely to be one with old age!

But, I remember people who were stressed having 'week end' migraines, which came on when they relaxed.

Could it be that some are predisposed to heat problems when the stress goes?

x