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November 2023

Editor Note: This issue of AROHE Matters highlights how retirement organizations help retirees learn about the best life, financial, and estate planning tasks as they look forward to a New Year.

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President's Message

Retirement Organizations (ROs) affiliated with higher education institutions exist for many reasons. They give members opportunities to socialize with former colleagues and friends. They help to maintain an active connection with one’s former place of employment. They provide opportunities for meaningful service and personal growth after a lengthy career that often defined one’s purpose and structured much of one’s daily life.

One of the most important and beneficial roles of ROs is to support retirees as they authorize a new stage of life, a life stage that offers infinite opportunities but few clear milestones to mark our path forward. ROs assist with the transition to this new phase of life in many ways. Some conduct “What’s Next” workshops focusing on the challenges and exciting potential of retirement years. Some sponsor financial and estate planning seminars that address legal and economic questions that confront all retirees. Some listen carefully to their members and design special events and services that address the unique interests of different groups of their participants, recognizing that not all higher education retirees are on the same journey.

This issue of AROHE Matters gives a sampling of the range of services and activities retirement organizations that belong to AROHE provide to help their members author their own good life. I hope these examples energize your RO and trigger some creative initiatives in support of your members’ ongoing transition to a fulfilling phase of life.

Best wishes,

AROHE President Roger Baldwin

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AROHE is proud to partner with Fidelity Investments® to present “Reimagining Retirement: Exploring Your Life Plan,” a three-part virtual learning series exploring the social, psychological, and emotional aspects of transitioning to, and living in, retirement. The series is geared toward faculty and staff in higher education who are retired or contemplating retirement and is designed to help attendees to clarify their goals and understand the changes that occur during life’s next chapter.

The series includes three webinars: “Reframing Identity Your Identity,” by Dr. Michelle Pannor Silver from the University of Toronto on January 30; “Reimagining Your Personalized Plan,” by Dr. Stacey Gordon from New York University on February 13; and “Rebuilding Your Network,” featuring a panel of retired faculty and staff on February 27. All sessions are at 10-11:15 a.m. PST, 11. Everyone is welcome to register and there is no charge to attend.

“At any point in time, we are faced with changes and transitions,” said Roger Baldwin, President of AROHE. “While there is guidance and support for many life transitions – such as choosing and graduating from a college, starting a career, getting married, and having children – fewer resources are available for those navigating transitions later in life, especially when it involves changes in relationships, purpose and meaning, and feelings of relevance derived from work.”

“Many college and university faculty and staff approaching retirement age have dedicated half their lives or more to their work,” said Sangeeta Moorjani, executive vice president and head of tax-exempt business and retirement solutions at Fidelity. “Their status as educators is a huge piece of their identity, so there is naturally a fear that comes along with detaching from their work extending far beyond the financial aspects of retirement. We are proud to team up with AROHE to explore these feelings and help provide comfort and understanding around this next chapter of life.”

For additional information or to register for the “Reimagining Retirement: Exploring Your Life Plan” webinar series, visit https://www.arohe.org/Reimagining-Retirement/.

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AROHE-HBCU Project: Voices of HBCU Faculty

AROHE has begun an intergenerational project with the Morehouse College National Alumni Association (MCNAA) to survey retired faculty from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to better understand the unique needs and aspirations of the HBCU retired faculty community. Two HBCU undergraduates, Morehouse College’s Noah Jamison and Spelman College’s Melanie Dela Rosa (pictured), are interning under the guidance of AROHE Board Members Kaye Jeter and Caroline Kane and the MCNAA Director, Michael Levesque, to identify and then survey retired faculty from as many of the 103 HBCUs as possible. We invite you to join this effort.

Retired faculty from HBCUs have left an indelible mark on the educational landscape and the communities they have served. Their commitment to mentorship, knowledge dissemination, and the fostering of leadership has played an instrumental role in shaping the minds of future generations. Survey responses will provide crucial insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by HBCU retirees and will guide AROHE in tailoring initiatives to effectively address these needs, e.g., shaping a virtual retirement organization for HBCU retired faculty.

Please help the students and AROHE in this project by providing us with the names and email addresses of retired HBCU faculty whom you know. The students will contact them about the survey and about their interest in being interviewed to archive their journey in their own words.

This project is phase one of a larger effort to contact retirees from HBCUs and other colleges and universities that do not yet have a retirement organization to provide a community and information resources for life’s next chapters.

Contact info@arohe.org with names and email addresses, as well as comments about the project.

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UCLA Retirees Associations Staff Mentoring Programs

In 2019, the UCLA Retirees Association (UCLARA) began investigating the possibility of retirees mentoring UCLA career staff and sharing their career and life experiences. Initially, working with the UCLA Campus Human Resources Professional Development Program (PDP), UCLARA sponsored two projects to evaluate the feasibility of and interest in a UCLARA-sponsored mentoring program and identify implementation requirements.

Based on the outcome of those projects, UCLARA formed a UCLARA Mentoring Program Advisory Committee to assist with the implementation. Members include representatives from UCLARA, Campus Human Resources, Health Sciences Human Resources, various staff and management groups, the College of Letters and Science, and several administrative departments. The Committee determined that rather than initiate a new program, it would identify existing campus programs that might welcome retiree mentors. Two programs were identified—the ACE Mentoring Program run out of the College of Letters and Science and the Administrative Management Group ProShare Program—and a decision was made to include retirees during FY23.

Applications for the ACE Mentoring Program were solicited in August 2022. Eleven retirees applied to be mentors. Those retirees provided hugely positive testimonials regarding their experiences. A follow-up survey conducted of all mentees and mentors also provided positive feedback about the inclusion of retirees as mentors. Applications for the AMG Pros hare Program were made available in November 2022. Six retirees applied to participate. The feedback from those participants was also extremely positive. Based on this feedback and level of interest, both programs are continuing to include retiree mentors. Applications for the 2023-34 ACE Program were recently solicited and the number of retirees who expressed interest grew to 17. The applications for the FY23-24 ProShare Program will be available in November.

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UBC: A Pre-Retirement Seminar with Boutiful Results

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Transitions to Retirement Seminar is a partnership between UBC Human Resources and the UBC Emeritus College. Virtual in format, each five-hour seminar admits 75 faculty members and their partners. The seminar consists of presentations of retirement-planning content, stories of life in retirement, facilitated breakouts for discussion and Q&A, and a stretch break led by a kinesiologist!

Six weeks before the seminar, faculty members aged 55 and over receive an e-invitation from HR. The registration form uses the Qualtrics Survey Tool and requests data about the registrant and responses to the following:

• What are two to three questions that you hope will be addressed in the seminar?
• Do you have any major issues or concerns about your plans for retirement? If so, what are they?

Why do we conduct a pre-seminar survey? The reasons are four-fold. Does our pre-set agenda of topics address the identified informational needs and concerns? Does the totality of responses have implications for our seminar facilitation approaches? Thirdly and fourthly, we believe that there are direct benefits for faculty members: they identify learning needs ahead of time and they declare, sometimes for the first time, their key issues and concerns regarding retirement.

We received an avalanche of responses, thus far, from over 300 respondents. The data are analyzed, and relevant portions are shared with the specific speakers for incorporation into their talks. The data also provide direction for the improvement of retirement-planning services and the incorporation of “retirement” into the academic culture of UBC. Contact: linda.leonard@ubc.ca, Chair, Transitions to Retirement Committee,

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UCB Retirement Center: Support, Connections, Engagement

The UC Berkeley Retirement Center serves retirees of UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and UC Office of the President, offering a reliable source of human connection to those seeking support services, social connections, and intellectual engagement. We are dedicated to helping our community live well in retirement by bringing together the skills, intellect, and creativity of retirees to solve challenges and create opportunities, while also raising awareness of retirement tools, programs, and services, and highlighting the accomplishments of retirees. We connect staff, faculty, and scientists with resources and tools to help with a smooth transition to retirement and promote activities that nourish the mind and well-being of retirees.

The Berkeley Retirement Center provides a wide range of support, services, and opportunities for continued connection to the University. With the establishment of the Emeriti Academy, we foster connections to campus through mentoring, research, and teaching. We organize multiple lecture series that tap into the intellectual diversity of retired and current staff and faculty, as well as occasions for socialization and connection-building through informal gatherings and volunteer opportunities. We provide support to four retiree associations, advancing their efforts to build community among retirees and advocate for retiree and emeriti interests at the campus and state levels. We build a critical bridge between retirees (and soon-to-be-retirees) and their appropriate human resource and benefits support teams. Additionally, we organize events aimed at readying soon-to-be retirees for the emotional, social, and psychological transitions of retirement, as well as helping retirees meet critical needs through programs and information on financial planning, estate planning, aging in place, and long-term care planning.

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Retirement Trends and Resources

Videos to Advance Talking About Aging

Videos to Advance Talking About Aging

The Reframing Aging Initiative (RAI), a project directed by GSA (Gerontological Society of America) on behalf of the Leaders of Aging Organizations collaborative, seeks to change American society’s deeply entrenched misperceptions about aging and older people. Now a set of three short videos will help advance that long-term goal: Frame of Mind: The Why and How of Reframing Aging, Frame of Mind: Reframing Aging from Them to Us, and Frame of Mind: Starting Strong, Avoiding Traps.

“These new videos are a powerful resource to help us all use language that presents a more complete understanding of aging and reminds us of the many ways older people contribute to families, communities, and workplaces,” said RAI Project Director Patricia D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, vice president for policy and professional affairs at GSA. “Aging is a universal, shared experience. But the way we talk about it can diminish and harm older people, even if we do not mean to.” Home (reframingaging.org)

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The Hidden Power of Purpose

Holidays and Alzheimer's

Holiday celebrations and events may cause confusion and anxiety for a person with Alzheimer’s. The person may enjoy some situations more than others. Here are tips for caregivers to help a person with Alzheimer's prepare for holiday visitors and guests:

• Show the person photos of guests a week before their arrival. Explain who the visitor is while showing the photo.
• Arrange phone calls for the person with visitors before the event. The call will give visitors an idea of what to expect and give the person with Alzheimer’s an opportunity to become familiar with the visitor.
• Keep the person’s routine as close to normal as possible. Changes in routine may confuse or frustrate the person with Alzheimer’s.
• Ensure the person gets adequate rest. Proper rest can help to prevent fatigue during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Explore more holiday tips for Alzheimer’s caregivers. This information is also available in Spanish. NIAA Tips for Caregivers.

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Are You Up To Date on Recommended Vaccines?

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about which vaccines are recommended for you. Vaccines can help protect you, and others, from:

• Flu (influenza): a virus that can cause fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and muscle aches.
• Shingles: an infection that affects the nerves and can cause pain, tingling, itching, rash, and blisters.
• Whooping cough (pertussis): an illness that causes uncontrollable coughing fits, which can make it hard to breathe.
• Pneumococcal disease: an infection that spreads from person to person by air and often causes pneumonia.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): a respiratory disease that can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other serious health problems.

Learn more about vaccines recommended for older adults.

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Guide to Understanding Medicare During Open Enrollment

Medicare Open Enrollment is happening now! People with Medicare have until December 7 to amend their coverage options. Today, the Medicare Rights Center is launching added resources to support people making Medicare enrollment decisions and those making changes to their Medicare coverage.

Resources are available in various formats to meet different learning needs. To speak with a Medicare expert for more information or questions about Medicare, call our national helpline at 800-333-4114.

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Meditative Moment

Welcome to a Wider World – Explore Your Inner Self – Be Proud of Your Age – Sustain Your Sense of Belonging – Sex, Sensuality, Love – Expand Your Spiritual Well-being – Stretch Your Mind – Seek to Broaden Your World – Experience the Richness of Volunteering – Be Ever the Advocate

Aging Comes of Age, Frank Hutchison

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Come Join Us in Transforming Retirement

Since 2002 AROHE has supported both institutions and individuals by transforming the experience of retirement – the preparation, the transition, and post-retirement programming – into a smooth and productive life-course change.

To renew, join or learn more, visit arohe.org or contact AROHE by emailing info@arohe.org or calling (530) 219-1049.

Tell Us Your Story

AROHE members are encouraged to submit stories that reflect activities, news and events from your retirement organization and campus that highlight the value retirees bring to their colleges and universities.

The January issue of AROHE Matters will focus on Reimagining Retirement and an exploration of the social, psychological, and emotional aspects of transitioning to, and living in, "retirement." Tell us your story about your retirement organization activities to help retirees reimagine their life chapters after full time employment.

Articles are limited to 250 words. A relevant picture (jpeg or png) and web links are valued additions to any article.

Share your story for the January issue of AROHE Matters by December 11, 2023, to Patrick Cullinane, editor, at pcullinane@berkeley.edu.

About AROHE

AROHE's mantra is "Transforming Retirement."

At AROHE, we know that higher education retirees are assets of society who reinvent, NOT retire from, life; positively impact their communities; and contribute to the greater good.

Copyright © 2020 AROHE. All rights reserved.
Contact email: info@arohe.org
Contact phone: 530-219-1049

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