The retirement years, typically from age 65 and on, are often referred to as the golden years. They’re supposed to be the years where you enjoy the benefits of working hard your whole life. That can be a little tricky if you experience health issues that negatively impact your quality of life in retirement though. Do you know what issues to watch out for?
Arthritis
Arthritis is a blanket term for joint pain, disease, and inflammation. Because you move your joints whenever you do just about anything, arthritis can make even the simplest tasks uncomfortable, if not downright painful to perform.
That strongly impacts your quality of life in retirement. It may limit your mobility and self-sufficiency. There isn’t a sure way to prevent arthritis, but working to maintain mobility and function may minimize its impact down the road.
Vision Problems
So much of how we experience the world is visual. That can lead to vision problems to dramatically impact the quality of life you have in retirement. Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration are common vision problems that are primarily age-related.
When left untreated, cataracts can eventually lead to blindness. The same can be said for other vision problems. Take steps to protect your vision by taking regular and frequent breaks from screen time, eating a nutritious diet, and getting a regular eye exam regularly based on your age.
Depression
Retirement can be a wonderfully relaxing time, but for some people, it’s an incredibly lonely time. Not working means giving up a bunch of social connections that you may have enjoyed participating in. Not working can also lead to feelings of a loss of purpose. Both may lead to depression, which is sure to negatively impact your quality of life. The thing with depression is that you don’t have to feel sad to be depressed. People who experience clinical depression may also feel a lack of interest in activities they previously enjoyed. Building relationships and finding purpose in your retirement may help you combat depression so you can enjoy a higher quality of life.
If you want to have the best quality of life you can when you retire, you have to plan ahead. So much of your health when you’re older is determined by decisions you make when you are younger. Invest in your health now so you can enjoy a better quality of life when you make it to retirement.
Did you enjoy reading this article? Here’s more to read: Tools Every Retiree Should Use to Leave an Inheritance