Consider the amount of time, money and resources young Americans spend preparing for adulthood—at least 12 years of schooling, sports, clubs, internships. The list goes on. And even so, navigating the real world upon graduation is not without its challenges.
Why, then, should we expect older Americans to successfully transition into their next phase of life with little to no preparation?
In short, we shouldn’t.
Enter Aging Mastery, a program designed to equip seniors with retirement-related knowledge and resources that can help ease the shift from work life into life after work.
Designed by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the program aims “to educate people about what to expect during those years and how to make small changes that can have lasting effects on their long-term health and economic security.”
Participants can experience the program in a classroom setting or at home with a self-directed kit. As noted on NCOA’s website, the Aging Mastery curriculum provides “a comprehensive approach to aging well—focusing on key aspects of health, finance, relationships, personal growth and community involvement” through use of “a proven model of behavior change incentives with a primary emphasis on getting people to take actions to improve their lives.”
One of the programs 10 core courses, dubbed Financial Fitness, introduces strategies for remaining economically secure post-work in an era of increased longevity. It presents techniques for setting financial goals and addresses common challenges retirees face like developing financial boundaries with family and friends.
More than 13,500 people have participated in Aging Mastery thus far through the NCOA’s network of community-based organizations and senior centers. Now, funded by a $4 million grant from the Anthem Foundation, the NCOA will deliver Aging Mastery to another 8,000 older Americans. More specifically, the program will expand into underserved communities in Connecticut, California, Indiana, Ohio and Texas.
“Aging Mastery has been a success because it’s enjoyable and practical for older adults—and because we have great partners dedicated to improving lives in their community,” James Firman, president and CEO of NCOA, said in a statement. “With the Anthem Foundation’s support, thousands more older adults will be empowered to create their own playbook for aging well.”
Jessa Claeys is a writer, editor and graphic designer.