Life for some may not begin at 40, as the old adage posits, but at the rather more mature age of 65.
Ambition, curiosity and perseverance are qualities many would hope to instil in their children as they prepare to navigate the world, yet these characteristics do not necessarily ebb away as we slide into our autumn years, research suggests.
Keeping an active mind
The desire to enjoy new experiences and achieve success can actually blossom once we hit retirement age.
Indeed, almost one third of people aged 65 or over have achieved a lifelong ambition since retiring, according to a YouGov poll.
The biggest factor driving those who have accomplished their dream was an eagerness to keep an active mind, with 39 per cent of people citing this as a reason.
Dreaming big
This was closely followed by the desire to stay physically active, with 34 per cent of respondents giving this as the primary reason for pursuing their ambition, the poll of over 1,000 people commissioned by stairlift company Stannah found.
Over a quarter of those questioned (27 per cent) said they wanted to experience new things. The greatest goal among retirees aged 65 and over was to travel the world, with 14 per cent of people in this age bracket saying it was their main ambition.
Other dreams listed included getting a pilot’s licence, writing a book, flying a glider and restoring a boat.
A passion for learning
The study forms part of Stannah’s long-running Silver Census series, which seeks to determine what makes Britain’s millions of over-65s tick.
It may have been many decades since they were sitting behind a school desk, but a passion for learning burns in many retirees. Over 60 per cent of people said they had mastered a new skill such as learning a new language since collecting their pension.
Achieving goals ‘as important’ for pensioners as for younger people
“Continuing to learn and achieve lifelong goals is just as important to pensioners as it is to younger people,” said Patrick Stannah, managing director at Stannah.
“As this study shows, learning continues well into retirement and personal goals remain achievable for older people.
“We know learning a new skill is good for cognitive function and it’s clear that the UK population of 65 and overs appreciate the importance of maintaining an active mind,” he added.
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