Meaningful Activity in Later Life

Abstract

After-retirement activity has long been of interest to those who work with older persons and to older people themselves. Particularly, if one's work focused on the provision of service to others, certain activities of that service-work continue over time and within the new structures of later life. Later, work may diminish and selected leisure activities fill more of the new-found free time.

This paper is a report of insight gained during interviews with 100 religious sisters, aged 64-95, whose four communities have missions focused in service to others. The volunteer participants discussed current involvements, interests in further learning, and recommendations to other older persons for continuing lives of meaningful involvement.

Key Words:

• Retirement
• meaningful activities
• religious sisters