Retirement as a Turning Point in the Life of a Man

This Bachelor thesis deals with retirement and changes that follow this turning point in human life. The topic is up to date with regard to demographical ageing process of Czech population in the Czech Republic and abroad. The theoretical part of the thesis focuses on questions regarding demographical development and its impact on the society. Other chapters describe particular changes in ageing process, changes in physical, psychological, cognitive and social area. The following chapters involve reflections on factors that influence pensioners' lives health, physical activity, income, sense of life and spirituality. One chapter deals with issues of social exclusion and pensioners' needs. The aim of the thesis is to find out the impacts of retirement on human life and on satisfying pensioners' bio-psycho-social and spiritual needs. A partial aim is to find out if the change of a social status leads to social isolation of pensioners. A qualitative research strategy, a questioning method and a semi-standardized dialogue method are used in this thesis. The communicative partners were pensioners at the age of sixty-five and over, who were chosen at the basis of progressive choice by Snowball sampling method. The obtained data were analyzed by open coding, which enables to separate the text into smaller parts. Mental maps are used to present obtained information. According to the research, fourty-four per cent of pensioners didn't think about ageing and retirement during their active working life. Pensioners over seventy, who were awaitening retirement, were convinced that they will be provided for a pension that they will get from the state. They didn't think about financial resources, such as saving or insurance. All pensioners noticed some changes they experienced in connection with retirement, which was an interesting finding. Two thirds of them devoted to their hobbies and didn't feel any limits eg. lack of opportunities or lack of finance, which would prevent them from devoting to their hobbies. The results have shown that when a person gets older and less fit, their value scale is changing. In their youth these people preferred family interests and finance maintanance. Elderly people put their health and health of their family members in the first place in life. Czech pensioners regard their pension as low, however they are satisfied and they are able to make ends meet, which is also an interesting point. Those who are fit keep going to work and are able to save money. Responses to questions regarding health were also interesting. After feeling tired and having a lot of health problems at the beginning of the retirement, pensioners feel more relaxed and quite well, only with tiny health problems. Some of them were feeling even better. The contribution of this research is the finding that there is no reason to be afraid of such a major change in life as the retirement represents. Pensioners have enough opportunities for self-realization and they needn't be afraid of being socially excluded or isolated, if they don't wish so. Also a generational cohesion between family members was proved. Pensioners can rely on their offsprings in hard times