Creating a new chapter in retirement

Many of the people we support hold part-time jobs, some have worked for many years and found fulfillment in what they do. Now, they are beginning to retire. Hammer & NER will support them in finding fulfillment after retirement.

Anne’s co-workers hosted a lunch on her last day, which coincided with her 70th birthday.

Like many retirees, Anne is looking forward to the next chapter in her life—a time to relax, spend more time with friends and family, and do some traveling. Anne has been supported by Hammer & NER since 1972. She resides at our Stone Creek Apartments program where she greatly enjoys her independence, with support as needed from on-site staff.

In June, Anne retired from General Mills after 13 years. She worked with a cleaning crew from Lifeworks folding and sorting industrial towels, stocking and organizing shelves, and doing other jobs as needed.

What does retirement look like for Anne? Over the summer, Anne began attending a new community-based day program at Lifeworks that offers volunteer opportunities. Anne is paired with projects that are a good fit for her interests, likes, and strengths. She attends the program three days a week. She gets up early, and staff assist her with packing her lunch before Metro Mobility takes her to Lifeworks. She meets up with others to volunteer or do other activities. “She likes it a lot because she gets to go out and do things,” says Anne’s sister, Linda Holmen. “Her favorite activity is volunteering at Feed My Starving Children.” Anne also joins others on visits to the library, walks at the park, and attends various events in the community. “Anne signs up each week for what she wants to do,” says Linda. “She can make choices.”

“Our staff support those who are transitioning into retirement by helping them establish new routines, stay socially engaged, and find meaningful activities,” says Stone Creek’s Program Manager Malik Mohamud. When she’s not at the Lifeworks program, Anne enjoys spending time in her apartment. She also likes going to the staff apartment to have a cup of coffee and hang out with Malik as he does some of his administrative work. “We invite Anne on routine errands, such as grocery shopping or visits to the Wayzata office so she can stay engaged with familiar faces,” says Malik. Anne also spends time at Linda’s house and the family’s lake cabin. They are planning to travel, too.

“For those who have recently retired or plan to, we do not currently anticipate a large need for additional staff support, but we will reassess as needed,” says Malik. “Staff will keep a close eye on their memory, functioning, behavior, and ability to complete basic needs. Documentation will establish a baseline so we recognize declines that may come with growing older.”

As for Anne, Linda says, “My biggest worry was that when Anne retired, she would have nothing to do, but we managed to figure out how that wouldn’t happen. We plan to stay the course. If there’s a time when we need to change, we will. Right now, Anne is happy and it’s going well.”

Anne is pictured above with her sister, Linda Holmen.