Brain Health Expert: Patricia Faust
Let’s talk about the irony of overcoming ageism in the gerontology space.
Throughout my fifties I was trying to reestablish my work identity. I had just finished five years of education focused primarily on the broad topic of dementia. My accomplishments were significant – a bachelor’s degree in gerontology, a nursing home administrator’s license, a certificate in clinical aromatherapy, and finally, a master’s in gerontological studies.
All this education was meant to propel me into meaningful positions in the field of aging, specifically working with the behaviors of dementia. But all this education didn’t prepare me for the bias of agism that I faced. I was left to create my own slice of the gerontology pie.
Savings For Retirement:
I don’t have any problems thinking outside the proverbial box. However, I learned quickly that most people are not comfortable in that space. So instead of concentrating on how much savings I could put aside for retirement, I was scrambling to create my own niche in brain aging and brain health. Retirement plans didn’t exist in the traditional sense of the word.
“However, I learned quickly that most people are not comfortable in that space.”
Then the sixties rolled around. Now friends were counting the days when they could put the working world behind them.
What I heard when they talked about retirement was the joy they would feel when they didn’t have to go into work on Monday morning and then live for the weekend. What they didn’t know then was when you are retired there are no weekends. Everyday becomes a weekend day.
My Overcoming Ageism Non-Retirement Plan:
My sixties flew by. I continued to develop My Boomer Brain and expanded my knowledge and offerings. My non-retirement plan was the best plan for my brain. However, there was a big stumbling block I had to overcome throughout that time.
As much as I loved what I was doing, I wasn’t bringing in any income. That was a big problem. It became necessary for me to find – a job! At this point I was in my late sixties. My job applications and resume found a dark hole. Once I sent them off, I never heard anything from them again. So, I did what I had to do – I went to work for Amazon as a part-time warehouse associate.
What I found when I started working were many older warehouse associates. One of my friends there had a PhD, another had been a director of a large hospital systems HR department.
I loved the people I worked with and that elevated my self-esteem. Sometimes your retirement is a non-retirement, and it takes resilience to push through.
Overcoming Ageism In Job Hunting:
AARP and other aging resources recognize that many retirees are returning to the workforce. Age-friendly job postings are plentiful, but you must decide what you need as opposed to what you want to do. It is more important that you enjoy what you do rather than work for the money. Sometimes it requires more job hunting to find the right job for you.
“We are all over the age of 70 and the majority are retired.”
A Quick Look At My Peers:
I wanted to learn how my high school classmates were navigating retirement. We are all over the age of 70 and the majority are retired. Our 50th high school reunion provided me with a lot of information.
The reunion had an outstanding turnout of 130 attendees, and I saw people I hadn’t seen in fifty years. I didn’t calculate totals, so you are getting the big, overall picture.
- There were some who were still working in their job/career. They wanted to retire at 70 years old.
- A few had started their second careers.
- There were some who got involved in volunteer projects.
- Travel was a big part of many of these retirees.
- Some were grandparents caring for their grandkids
Then, there were many who weren’t really doing anything.
Passion And Purpose Are Key:
How did my high school classmates feel about their lives at this point? Of course, this was a social event with old friends who were just seeing each other again after 50 years. Everyone was anxious to put on their best face, so it was hard to discern what was true and what wasn’t.
Those who really were more passive in their retirement listened to those who talked about what their everyday lives were like. But there was an air of excitement among those who were involved in what they were doing. Volunteer, new career, being a grandma, or traveling the world; these women were loving their retirement.
The ideas of passion and purpose started being expressed as they talked about what they did each day. The evening was far too short to learn if they had planned their retirement to be like this or if they found purpose in what they did in retirement.
Overcoming Ageism And Helping Others:
As for me, I was excited to talk about My Boomer Brain and everything I had learned about brain aging and brain health. They were very interested in what I had to say because they were starting to feel the glitches of an aging brain.
That reunion was five years ago, and I didn’t realize how much of an impact I made on these ladies. When my book, The Boomer Brain, was released in June, I posted the release on Facebook. To my surprise many of these ladies bought the book and sent me congratulations. This was so fulfilling.
Find Your Passion:
My retirement has centered around brain aging and brain health. I want boomers to understand how to take care of their brains so that they can live a lifetime with a high functioning brain. Even though I didn’t plan my retirement to be all about the brain, it has turned out to be my passion project.
When you are in your fifties and sixties, besides getting your financial ducks in a row for retirement, it is worth the time to discover what your passion project might be when you retire. You can imagine anything – from being a grandma to traveling the world. Find your passion. Your brain will respond.
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About the Author:
Patricia Faust is a gerontologist specializing in the issues of brain aging, brain health, brain function and dementia. She has a Masters in Gerontological Studies degree from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Patricia is certified as a brain health coach and received a certification in Neuroscience and Wellness through Dr. Sarah McKay and the Neuroscience Academy. My Boomer Brain, founded in 2015, is the vehicle that Patricia utilizes to teach, coach and consult about brain aging, brain health and brain function. Her newsletter, My Boomer Brain, has international readers from South Africa, Australia, throughout Europe and Canada. She has also been a frequent guest on Medicare Moment on WMKV and Cincy Lifestyles on WCPO.
