Carrie Elam, a 91-year-old retired worker from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, is thriving more than two decades after leaving her job, according to an April 6 article released by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Elam’s daily routine includes morning exercises, meditation in her backyard overlooking Los Angeles, volunteering, walking in the park, attending cultural events, and spending time with family.
Experts at Cedars-Sinai say that how retirees spend their time can significantly affect their health. Sonja Rosen, MD, chief of Geriatric Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, said Elam “is doing retirement the right way” by maintaining physical activity and social engagement. Zaldy Tan, MD, MPH, medical director of the Jona Goldrich Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders at Cedars-Sinai added: “Retirement from work is not retirement from life… This idea of retirement is man-made.” Both physicians emphasize that staying socially and cognitively engaged can lead to better physical health and improved mental wellbeing.
The number of older adults remaining in the workforce has increased over recent decades. Nearly 20% of today’s workforce are age 65 or older—double the rate seen in the mid-1980s—with many choosing to work for health benefits rather than financial necessity. Research cited by Cedars-Sinai suggests that each additional year spent working may reduce mortality risk by 11%.
Rosen recommends those preparing for retirement consider where they find meaning outside work and build new routines before leaving employment. She advises retirees to aim for regular exercise—at least 150 minutes of cardio per week—and strength training twice weekly. Maintaining social connections through volunteering or group activities is also encouraged.
Not everyone finds fulfillment in traditional retirement. Christine Maclin retired at age 69 but returned to work within six months after missing a sense of purpose. Now employed as a caregiver twice a week while continuing to learn new skills daily, Maclin said: “I like having somewhere to go and having something to do.” Both Maclin and Elam credit their positive outlooks as key factors supporting their good health.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center itself has served Los Angeles since its founding in 1902 under current president Thomas M. Priselac; it admitted over fifty thousand patients for treatment during its most recent reported year according to its annual report.
