As retirement shifts from the traditional ‘take it easy and enjoy the fruits of your labour’, there is emerging a retirement that is embracing learning, earning, socialising, serving, and preserving health, and this is being promoted and facilitated by the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, generally referred to as the CCRP.

The CCRP is a non-profit, fee-paying membership organisation for people 40 and over, founded by Jean Lowrie-Chin in 2010. Its mission is to work towards ensuring that the vast talent, experience, and wisdom of seniors is respected, senior citizens can enjoy the quality of life they deserve, and senior citizens are empowered to continue making their contribution to the development of community, country and the region. Its wide-ranging programmes and activities empower its members to accomplish its mission.

Its programmes offer members opportunities to engage in social activities, entertainment, networking, and training. They also get opportunities to earn income by being advised of available full-time and part-time opportunities through the association’s communication channels, they are able to participate in the association’s group health insurance plan, they are able to access discounts from the association’s discount partners, which include pharmacies, auto parts businesses, dentists, medical doctors, physical therapists, and restaurants. Members are also kept informed about important issues through seminars and workshops. The CCRP recognises the importance of its members’ social, financial and health needs.

There is a strong emphasis on the social life of members. They are able to attend events sponsored by the CCRP and other groups. Although some are free, others are not, but members may get discounts in some cases.

Some activities are for fun and entertainment but others are educational, so there are socials, movies, concerts, excursions to various parts of the country, and the occasional cruise, giving members the opportunity to know Jamaica and other countries. These create opportunities for bonding and networking.

CCRP keeps members informed about employment opportunities, to help them earn and keep active and to provide a medium for them to contribute to the development of others in the workplace. Members who are in a position to offer employment and goods and services are able to use the communication channels of the association to make this known.

Members also have opportunities to prepare themselves to learn new skills and to engage in gainful income-earning activities. There are courses to sharpen their skills and to prepare them to set up businesses. They are informed about the lifelong learning programmes of the HEART/NSTA Trust. Surveys are done to determine the interest of members in accessing job opportunities, and there are webinars focusing on specialised areas such as dealing with the process of transformation. These programmes equip members to live productively in their new stage of life.

Members can also keep current on how to relate to the tax authorities. Through webinars, for example, they can learn how to file their tax returns, and there are other programmes, Senior’s Conversations, for example, through which they can keep current about programmes like the National Insurance Scheme, which still has much relevance to retired people.

Good health is critical, especially to older people. Group health insurance is generally cheaper than individual insurance plans, so the group health plan to which members have access is a significant benefit. Webinars and advisories keep them informed about the availability of vaccinations and important topics such as brain health, for prevention is as important as the cure – if not more.

Discounts are very valuable. They strengthen spending power in the sense that they make it possible to buy more or to save. Considering that medical expenses tend to be higher for older people, who are generally more likely to be afflicted by health conditions, and that spending power tends to be less because of reduced income, discounts for health-related services can go a far way in helping to foster a healthier life style. Discounts also make other services and goods more affordable, thereby helping to improve the quality of life.

Regular information flows are helpful for good decision-making. The CCRP’s newsletter keeps members informed about its activities and developments that have meaning to them. For example, members are informed about legislative actions that affect them. Additionally, the ever-present email keeps information flowing to members regularly, for example, about the locations of bill payment facilities, scams they should be aware of, and who is seeking accommodation and who is offering it.

Retired people can keep on living a full life. Naturally, some will be limited by health issues and other situations which come naturally with age. Being part of a community is vital to enjoying a full life in retirement. The CCRP is playing an important role through its chapters in the Kingston Metropolitan Area, north-east Jamaica, central Jamaica and western Jamaica, but retired people may also come together in other areas and through other organised groups such as churches and citizens’ associations.

Oran A. Hall, author of Understanding Investments and principal author of The Handbook of Personal Financial Planning, offers personal financial planning advice and counsel. [email protected]

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