Counseling to Promote Retirement Adjustment

Older adults, who represent an increasing proportion of the population, face a major challenge in the adjustment to retirement. Nearly one third of older adults experience difficulty in making this adjustment (Atchley, 1975). Atehley's (1975) theory of adjustment to retirement and relevant empirical data are examined. It is argued that reactions to retirement are diverse and multifaceted. Specific counseling interventions and barriers to counseling older adults are suggested.