Active Retirement

chillaxing

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure where to ask this question but anyway.... In Ireland we have Active Retirement groups in most towns. What do they have in the UK? or more particularly Northern Ireland. Do they have active retirement groups like we have? As I cant find anything on them.

Thanks.

Max Power

Yes, it's called bingo.

Fr_Dougal

chillaxing wrote: »

What do they have in the UK? or more particularly Northern Ireland.

They have sit-hue-ations.

DEFTLEFTHAND

I'm sure each individual borough runs active retirement programmes. Google a specific area and I'm sure you'll get some info.

Max Power

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

They have sit-hue-ations.

Nah that's Scotland, sitty-ations is the word you're looking for.

chillaxing

I'm sorry I didn't realize I posed this in the comedians section...my bad

Max Power

chillaxing wrote: »

I'm sorry I didn't realize I posed this in the comedians section...my bad

Just yanking your colostomy bag..

Try here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1480

Lapin

chillaxing wrote: »

Hi everyone,

In Ireland we have Active Retirement groups in most towns. What do they have in the UK? or more particularly Northern Ireland.

Evening Keith !

mfceiling

chillaxing wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure where to ask this question but anyway.... In Ireland we have Active Retirement groups in most towns. What do they have in the UK? or more particularly Northern Ireland. Do they have active retirement groups like we have? As I cant find anything on them.


Thanks.

They have things like the tuesday club for pensioners or gingerbread which cater for single parents of any age.

looksee

I had a look at Active Retirement, and concluded I will never be old enough to be a member.

Eyepatch

You are all so wrong in this thread! I am a member of an Active Retirement Group and can highly recommend it.

Fr_Dougal

Eyepatch wrote: »

You are all so wrong in this thread! I am a member of an Active Retirement Group and can highly recommend it.

Well done, patches. Only took you 3 years to type your reply!

C'mon now back to the home, time for your medication.

looksee

Eyepatch wrote: »

You are all so wrong in this thread! I am a member of an Active Retirement Group and can highly recommend it.

That's good to hear Eyepatch. The original question was about Active Retirement in the UK, but it would be worth getting a bit of feedback about it. What do you like about it, what do you do?

I had a fleeting contact with my local Active Retirement and I am afraid I was very unimpressed. However there seemed to be a good few members so evidently it was attractive to them. I think different groups would have a different dynamic, maybe I was just unlucky.

Eyepatch

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Well done, patches. Only took you 3 years to type your reply!

C'mon now back to the home, time for your medication.

Replies like yours is what has left this thread languishing for three years. I just happened to be googling "Active Retirement Chat Forums" and this is one of the more unfortunate ones that came up. I don't object to the original question - it the answers that do no credit to their owners! FYI, I am on no medication whatsoever - though there's nothing wrong with being on medication.

Eyepatch

looksee wrote: »

That's good to hear Eyepatch. The original question was about Active Retirement in the UK, but it would be worth getting a bit of feedback about it. What do you like about it, what do you do?

I had a fleeting contact with my local Active Retirement and I am afraid I was very unimpressed. However there seemed to be a good few members so evidently it was attractive to them. I think different groups would have a different dynamic, maybe I was just unlucky.

Thanks Looksee! In my local AR group, there are about 60 members - all ladies, as it happens. From the get-go they have been most welcoming and friendly. We meet every two weeks, where planing and announcements re upcoming activities are shared. Usually there will be a short talk from a guest speaker with useful information/advice, of interest to older, retired people. Also, at the meetings there can be fun activities such as quizzes, card games, sing-alongs, competitions, etc. etc. Usually the meeting finishes with tea/coffee and cake for all.

What I really enjoyed were the "real" activities, such as going places and doing things that I would not have done on my own.

• Attendance at a play performed by a local group, who were excellent
• Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society performance at the Gaiety Theatre - also most enjoyable
• The National Museum - the old Collins Barracks - very interesting!
• A Day Trip to the irish Counry women's Headquarters in An Grianán House in Termonfeckin in Co. Louth for lunch, some flower arranging and keep fit.
• A picinic and visit to the beautiful Regency-style ornamental garden in Marley Park. Glorious weather and great fun!
• A week's Holiday in Sligo, from which I've just returned. Again glorious weather throughout, and a lovely time was had by all! We had a bus, complete with driver, at our disposal to take us wherever we chose each day, music and dancing in the bar in the evening and, of course and evening of Bingo, put on by the hotel. :P
• Upcoming is a visit to The National Concert Hall - "South Pacific"
• Before Christmas, there will be a Gala Dinner, to bring us up to the holidays.

Sorry, if this is a bit long-winded, but for anyone, who's interested, this gives a rough idea of what can be expected by members who take part in an AR Group.

I almost forgot to mention they have lots of other activities such as line dancing , bowls, keep fit, walking, which I have not taken part in, as yet.


Before joining, I was put on a waiting list for a few months, due to lack of space for more members.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'm retired and very active but God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups.

Spanish Eyes

Anthony Zealous Runt wrote: »

I'm retired and very active but God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups.

Well, in fairness, it's each to their own.

But although I am retired I still bristle at joining a "retired" group, because in my own head I am still young, vibrant, and do things that do not need a group setting to enjoy them.

I'm lucky enough to be able to hill walk, and ordinary walk, and take furren holliers and all the rest of it.

But someday when I'm old and grey, maybe it will be an outlet.

I think it might be something to do with my personality though. I like the people I know, but find it hard to do the "hoo ha" with those I don't. Just me.

And there we are!

Eyepatch

Anthony Zealous Runt wrote: »

I'm retired and very active but God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups.

Am surprised this got so many thumbs up. Sounds very selfish to me. You don't know what the future holds for you. Lets hope you can continue to be active, as you describe - but who knows!

Seems what I have described in my last post, (bottom of Page 1) is of no value!

What I'm getting from a lot of people here is Fear of Aging and refusal to face the inevitable reality of Growing Old, and all that that entails!

Filmer Paradise

Anthony Zealous Runt wrote: »

I'm retired and very active but God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups.

Eyepatch wrote: »

Am surprised this got so many thumbs up. Sounds very selfish to me. You don't know what the future holds for you. Lets hope you can continue to be active, as you describe - but who knows!

Seems what I have described in my last post, (bottom of Page 1) is of no value!

What I'm getting from a lot of people here is Fear of Aging and refusal to face the inevitable reality of Growing Old, and all that that entails!

Different strokes for different folks.

I know some elderly neighbours who really enjoy the local AR group. They look forward to the days out & all that. Good for them I say.

Then you'll get lads like my auld fellah. 81 & wouldn't dream of joining something like that. In fairness he's fairly active without it though.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Eyepatch wrote: »

Am surprised this got so many thumbs up. Sounds very selfish to me. You don't know what the future holds for you. Lets hope you can continue to be active, as you describe - but who knows!

Seems what I have described in my last post, (bottom of Page 1) is of no value!

What I'm getting from a lot of people here is Fear of Aging and refusal to face the inevitable reality of Growing Old, and all that that entails!

Why is my being active and getting no value from the local Active Retirement activities selfish? I'm now in my 70s, if later I'm less active (as is bound to be the case) I still don't see that particular club being my cup of tea. I feel I'm entitled to pass my old age as I wish to without being considered selfish for fishing, hill walking, traveling etc on my own initiative.
I have no fear of old age, never did, and I'm well aware of what further old age may entail.

Eyepatch

I've asked the question "Why are there over 60 women in our group and not one man?" The most usual answer I get is they are all DEAD! A great number of the women are widows, who are trying to come to terms with the loss of their husbands. They find friendship with other women a great support. I've heard it said that "Men are not prepared to sit in a bus, or face a room full of women" - but you do see men using Dublin Bus and Luas on about an equal basis with women and it does not seem to cause them any problems.

Eyepatch

Anthony Zealous Runt wrote: »

Why is my being active and getting no value from the local Active Retirement activities selfish? I'm now in my 70s, if later I'm less active (as is bound to be the case) I still don't see that particular club being my cup of tea. I feel I'm entitled to pass my old age as I wish to without being considered selfish for fishing, hill walking, traveling etc on my own initiative.
I have no fear of old age, never did, and I'm well aware of what further old age may entail.

Get off your horse, Anthony Zealous Runt. What you do with your time is totally your own business. I found your remark about aging "God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups" to be very demeaning and offensive. Referring to my friends in the club as "geriatrics" is totally insulting and selfish, IMO. You don't know what you are talking about. They are human beings and you'll do well if you are still alive and well at their age.

Fr_Dougal

Eyepatch wrote: »

Get off your horse, Srameen. What you do with your time is totally your own business. I found your remark about aging "God preserve me from the geriatrics in those so called Active Retirement groups" to be very demeaning and offensive. Referring to my friends in the club as "geriatrics" is totally insulting and selfish, IMO. You don't know what you are talking about. They are human beings and you'll do well if you are still alive and well at their age.

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?