GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE MECHANISM OF INVOLUNTARY RETIREMENT ON LONELINESS

Abstract Involuntary retirement is known to be associated with long-lasting negative effects on well-being compared to voluntary retirement. However, little is known about complex mechanism connecting the path from social contexts and psychological factors of retirees, especially involuntary retirees to later year well-being. Also, despite the well-known gendered pattern of preretirement employment histories over the life course in general, gender differences in the pathway on well-being after involuntary retirement is still unclear. Drawing on the stress process theory, this study examined gender difference on the pathway linking involuntary retirement (primary stressor) to loneliness through material/physical vulnerability (secondary stressor) and social support/self-efficacy (coping resources). Data are from the 2014 HRS with 2,087 retirees aged 65+. Two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the significance of the specific effects of multiple mediators (material/physical vulnerability, coping resources). For male retirees, involuntary retirement was associated with a higher level of loneliness mediated through physical vulnerability and social-efficacy. For female retirees, involuntary retirement was directly associated with loneliness as well as indirectly associated through 1) material vulnerability connected to low social support, and 2) physical vulnerability related to low social support and low social-efficacy. The different impact of involuntary retirement may be due to differences in work history, previous work quality, and accumulated financial condition across gender. The results suggest important gender specified implications for social policy and practice for involuntary retirees.

mechanism connecting the path from social contexts and psychological factors of retirees, especially involuntary retirees to later year well-being. Also, despite the well-known gendered pattern of preretirement employment histories over the life course in general, gender differences in the pathway on well-being after involuntary retirement is still unclear. Drawing on the stress process theory, this study examined gender difference on the pathway linking involuntary retirement (primary stressor) to loneliness through material/ physical vulnerability (secondary stressor) and social support/self-efficacy (coping resources). Data are from the 2014 HRS with 2,087 retirees aged 65+. Two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the significance of the specific effects of multiple mediators (material/ physical vulnerability, coping resources). For male retirees, involuntary retirement was associated with a higher level of loneliness mediated through physical vulnerability and social-efficacy. For female retirees, involuntary retirement was directly associated with loneliness as well as indirectly associated through 1) material vulnerability connected to low social support, and 2) physical vulnerability related to low social support and low social-efficacy. The different impact of involuntary retirement may be due to differences in work history, previous work quality, and accumulated financial condition across gender. The results suggest important gender specified implications for social policy and practice for involuntary retirees.

MAKING THE AGING EXPERIENCE WORTHWHILE: HOW SOCIAL INTERACTION CONTRIBUTES TO ACTIVE AGING
Daniel Doh, 1 Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, 2 and Vicki Banham 3 , 1. Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia,2. Edith Cowan University,Joondalup,Perth,Australia,3. Edith Cowan University,WA,Joondalup,Perth,Australia In most parts of the world, people are now living longer lives, which presents both opportunities and concerns over how to make the ageing process a worthwhile experience. The World Health Organisation's Active Ageing model became a prominent global policy response since 2002 and has evolved into different country-level ageing policies. While a considerable volume of literature exists on active ageingtesting the validity of its various components, there is limited empirical evidence of how social interaction contributes to active ageing for older people and how it can be promoted through policy. In this paper, we examine social interaction and how it contributes to lived experiences of active ageing among a sample of 30 older Ghanaians living in Australia and Ghana. Our findings confirm the significance of social interaction for active ageing, and shows that social interaction creates a sense of purpose for living, which leads to the ability of the individual to build resilience, which mitigates anxieties and pains associated with ill health (especially for frail older people); enhances self-motivation for play and fun; empowers the individual to explore opportunities for continuous activity including leisure, and improves the general feeling of happiness resulting in active ageing -quality of life. The paper's main argument is that social interaction presents potentials for improving the quality of life (active ageing) for older people and needs to be carefully considered in policy, research and practice.

ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISOLATION OF OLDER ADULTS: THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND CONTRIBUTION
Bonnie Jeffery, 1 Tom McIntosh, 1 and Nuelle Novik 1 , 1.

University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
This presentation will discuss the Reducing Isolation of Seniors Collective (RISC), a collaboration of three organizations that have implemented nine projects to address social isolation for rural and urban older adults in Saskatchewan, Canada. A survey was completed with the purpose of identifying community-level awareness, knowledge and perspectives on the extent of social isolation of older adults in their communities. Key variables of interest included contributors to social isolation of older adults, barriers to overcoming social isolation, and community efforts and promising assets for addressing social isolation of older adults in their own communities. To develop an understanding of the extent to which respondents are involved with older adults, the survey asked respondents to report how often they supported, observed, advocated for, and/or interacted with seniors. The 271 respondents identified their roles in the community as human service professionals, healthcare professionals, program facilitators, community leaders, organization members, and community volunteers. Three-quarters of respondents reported that they were involved with seniors at least daily or weekly. While 75.3% believed that social isolation of older adults was "somewhat" or "very" common, almost one-half (41.2%) of respondents believed there was not general awareness of social isolation of older adults by other members in their community. Over one-half of the respondents mentioned community programming (55.7%), friends and neighbours (63.1%), and volunteers (57.2%) as community assets that can reduce isolation of older adults. Respondents reported examples of promising interventions in their communities: church support, library programs, transportation service, visiting programs, advocacy groups, and information sessions. The following study employs secondary data from the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration (MFP) in Connecticut (CT) to assess relationships between rural and urban living on loneliness and reinstitutionalization among an older adult (65+) sample. MFP is a federal initiative to help states transition people from institutional settings to the community. Older adults (n=1,301) who transitioned from institutional care to the community between 2009 and 2015 were surveyed 6, 12 and 24 months after transition. Rurality was determined according to the CT State Office of Rural Health and US Census Bureau definitions: urban area (UA), urban cluster (UC) and rural, utilizing 2017 CT Population data. SPSS was used to conduct chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs to examine relationships. Almost half of participants (48%) resided in UAs, another 43% lived in UCs and 8% lived in rural towns. A statistically significant relationship was found between rural and UC groups and loneliness, indicated by a three-item modified version of the R-UCLA loneliness scale. Rural residents reported lower rates of loneliness (3.84 out of 9) than did UC (4.61) or UA (4.64) residents. However, a significantly higher percentage of rural residents (44%) reported at least one instance of reinstitutionalization at 24 months compared to UC (36%) or UA (30%) residents. Multivariate analyses seek to clarify these contradictory results. The findings of this study have the potential to further inform the literature regarding loneliness and connections between reinstitutionalization among older adults living in rural and urban environments.

COASTAL RETIREMENT: IT'S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL THE HURRICANE HITS
Anne P. Glass, 1 Jenni Blair, 1 and Judith Nichols 1 , 1.

University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Many people dream of retiring to the beach. Twenty-four individuals who retired from out-of-state to a beach area in southern North Carolina had previously been interviewed regarding their retirement process and decision to move to this destination. Hurricane Florence brought major flooding and devastation to the area in September 2018. Shortly after, 10 participants agreed to complete a second interview and data collection about their hurricane-related experiences. This sample consisted of 8 women and 2 men, average age of 74.4 (range=68-88), and all were white. Nine evacuated, including one who went to a shelter. This project provided a unique opportunity to compare answers about stress levels and how they felt about their choice to move to the area, before and after the storm. Six and five rated their stress high/ very high just prior to, and during Florence, respectively, but stress levels returned to low/very low for 90%. Two stated the storm caused them to rethink their decision to move; one now says she feels ambiguous about her move and would probably not choose it again. Stress caused by uncertainty was a thread across all interviews. Anxiety and concern were experienced, but no one reported fear. Neighbors played an important role pre-, during, and post-storm. No participants had significant damages, although one had a break-in; all expressed gratitude. They reported some lessons learned to apply the next time. These findings will be of interest to planners and others. They also demonstrate the resilience of older adults in dealing with natural disasters.

DOES A PERCEIVED CONNECTION TO A NEIGHBORHOOD REDUCE LONELINESS?
Kimberly J. Johnson, 1 and Dolapo O. Adeniji 2 , 1. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis,Indiana,United States,2. School of Social Work,Indiana Purdue University Indianapolis,Indianapolis,Indiana,United States This study investigated whether perceived neighborhood quality was associated with chronic loneliness for adults 60 and older in the United States. Although loneliness can be episodic and overcome, chronic loneliness has been identified as a social determinant of health. Utilizing ecological systems theory we hypothesized that higher levels of neighborhood social cohesiveness would be associated with lower odds of chronic loneliness. We postulated that the networks available to people in the proximal area where they live could provide social opportunities for reducing loneliness. This idea was consistent with prior findings indicating the salience of neighborhoods for retirees, but inconsistent with research indicating the importance of a confidant in reducing loneliness. Data from the 2008 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study Psychosocial Surveys were used (n = 3530). Loneliness was measured using the 3-item scale developed by Hughes and colleagues in 2004. Findings from unadjusted logistic regression indicated that loneliness was inversely related to neighborhood cohesion as measured by an index of the trustworthiness, friendliness and helpfulness of neighbors and cleanliness, occupancy, lack of graffiti, and sense of belonging in the area (OR = .73, p < .001). When demographic and health-related factors were entered into the model the odds of being lonely were significantly lower for those with higher ratings of social cohesion (OR = .83, p < .001). These findings were consistent with the idea that neighborhoods are an important social place for older persons and interventions at the neighborhood level may be more effective than individualized treatment plans. Cancer remains a leading cause of death, especially among older adults. While spouses are commonly involved in the provision of emotional and practical assistance to their ill spouse, their caregiving is not without cost. Although knowledge of an impending death permits preparation for the loss, a long and protracted illness, or one marked by intense caregiving demands, can deplete the well spouse's personal resources, increasing the risk of morbid bereavement outcomes. Well spouses (n=138), aged 50 and older (mean age 63.6), 41% male, providing 8+ hours of caregiving to a spouse with advanced cancer and a life expectancy of 6 months or less were followed over the terminal illness period. Caregiving spouses' anticipatory grief, depression and anxiety were all significantly, inversely correlated with sufficiency of social support, specifically tangible, informational and emotional