Hey everyone, I am new in the forum. This is my first post here. I have been diagnosed with Parkinson 4 years ago and on Levodopa which control my symptoms to some extent. Suffer from morning stiffness and dyskinesia at other times during the day. I am one of the NHS consultant in women health. I love my job, drooped my work from full time to part time 2 years ago. I reached to the point I do not feel motivated enough to do part time job either.
Is early retirement on my illness will be good or bad idea ? I am thinking of my financial support afterwards.
Many thanks
Vian
Hi & welcome @Vianaziz to the forum. My advice is that if you’re still active enough to do your your job part time why retire ? What will you do with your time ? I had no choice/say in the matter, I had to give up my job as a Lorry Driver so had to take Medical Retirement at 58(I use the phrase Mentally Retarded to make light of my plight !!). It all depends upon your age plus you say you love your job so why give up entirely ? Finance is key t any retirement on whether you’ve got a private pension fund to see you through to retirement age. Think long and hard before making any rash decisions possibly talk it through with your HR Section. Take care, stay safe & have a good weekend.
Les
My husband took early retirement 3 years ago…the university he worked for were looking to cut staff so he applied for redundancy…up to that point the university had been very good in allowing him to change his work hours etc due to his PD…as he was travelling 30miles every day and the work was quite physical he thought redundancy was a good idea…
The plan was that he would look for a part time job as he was only 61 so a few years away from his pension or if not he would do some voluntary work to keep him occupied.I am still working.
Since he left work he has never looked for a job and has not even looked for any voluntary work…he has lost all his confidence and through him being at home all day his PD has progressed…going to work gave him a purpose in life, something to do every day and most of all a routine…
He now sits at home watching the TV and reading the newspaper. When I get home from work and ask him what he has done he usually replies " Well I walked to the shop to get the paper"…He has no social life at all and has lost contact with his colleagues who he used to socialise with…
My advice to you would be to carry on working albeit part time for as long as you can( or until it becomes impossible for you to work) you will have a purpose to your day, your brain will stay active and you will still be around people to socialise with…
1 Like
Hello Vianaziz and I too welcome you to the forum. You have had two good and honest replies to your post advocating that you continue working based on sound reasoning. I know it is stating the obvious but the decision has to be and can only be made by you. I didn’t take retirement but did take up an unexpected opportunity of voluntary redundancy, a decision I have never regretted. It gave me an opportunity to work with my Parkinson’s rather than trying to fit my Parkinson’s into work. I was fortunate to have an understanding employer but even with this it was difficult because I didn’t want to take advantage or feel I wasn’t pulling my weight. I left work a decade ago and have plenty to fill my days. I’ve developed new interests, unlike babesbrown’s husband. She makes a valid point when she writes ’ going to work gave him a purpose in life, something to do every day and most of all a routine… ’ I wouldn’t disagree with that but her husband could have equally got those things had he followed through with his plans which for whatever reason he hasn’t done. Cruisecontroller asks why if you enjoy your job and are active enough to do it part time, would you want to retire. Again a valid point but why should paid employment be presumed to give you something that retirement can’t.
For me there are two key points you need to think about very carefully before making any decision. First is the point made by cruisecontroller’s and that is can you afford to retire, are you able to take for eg an occupational pension, what would the situation be on retirement on ill, health grounds, could you claim any benefits. Knowing what your financial position is and whether this will be enough to do the x y and z you want in retirement may well have a bearing on your decision. The other thing perhaps a bit more abstract and that is how much work defines who you are as a person. I was fortunate to work in a variety of posts which I enjoyed (mostly) which was a bonus but it was never that important to me. I worked because I had to pay my way and keep a roof over my head, that was the motivator not the work itself. For others work is key to how they see themselves perhaps it gives them a status or standing they wouldn’t have without their employment. Linked to this is how well you know yourself. Cruisecontroller asks ‘what will you do with your time’ and I do think it important to have some plans but you do also need to be honest with yourself about whether you will follow through. Sometimes it can be helpful. to start something while still employed so that when you do retire there is already at least some structure to your day. I again agree with babesbrown that confidence can easily be lost if all routine and structures are dismantled.
The two replies advocating you continue working are not wrong but then nor am I who decided not to. As I said it allowed me to work with my Parkinson’s not fit it into work, it meant I could fit any appointments or commitments at the optimum time for my meds, it meant it didn’t matter if I was having a slow or not very good day, it gave me time to try new things and meet with friends and so on. I enjoyed my working life but I don’t miss working. It’s horses for courses and if you do your sums, consider your plans and yourself honestly and carefully you will make the decision that is right for you.
I wish you luck and do let us know how you are getting on.
Tot
2 Likes