Recent studies show that a higher proportion of older people are living significantly longer and aging more successfully than ever before. Once the memory starts to go, there is little you can do about it. Retirement is often detrimental to health, i.e., people frequently seem to become ill or die soon after retirement. Rarely does someone over the age of 65 years produce a great work of art, science, or scholarship. Most older people have no interest in and little capacity for sexual relationships.
People tend to become more religious as they age.
Older persons who reduce their activity tend to be happier than those who remain active, so participation in voluntary activities tends to decline among the healthy aged. Marital satisfaction does not appear to be significantly affected by retirement. It is almost impossible for older people to learn new things. Creative expression in older adults may meet developmental needs and help them deal with conflicts and losses. Most older workers cannot work as effectively as younger workers.