A recent study, providing an insight into the ‘often-overlooked’ over 65 segment of the British population, has found one in three have achieved a lifelong ambition since retiring and a further third want to gain new life experiences.

According to a recent nationwide YouGov study, commissioned by stairlift manufacturer Stannah, 31 percent of 65s and overs claim to have achieved a lifelong ambition since retiring.

Part of Stannah’s long-running Silver Census series, the study seeks to offer an insight into the ‘often-overlooked’ segment of British society – its population of 10 million over 65s.

The research found that the top reason for wanting to achieve an ambition is to keep an active mind (39 percent), closely followed by the desire to stay physically active (34 percent).

In addition, almost one third want to gain new life experiences, such as travel the world, get a pilot’s licence, write a book, fly a glider and restore a boat.

60 percent also commented that they have learnt a new skill during retirement; more than a quarter have embraced the outdoors and brushed up on their gardening skills, while 13 percent have learned DIY.

Furthermore, one in 10 learned a new language, with a further 10 percent honing their cooking and baking skills.

For some 65 and over retirees, however, barriers can prevent them from realising their ambitions. For 28 percent, financial constraints were cited as the top reason for not being able to achieve a lifelong ambition, followed by family commitments (21 percent) and health concerns (21 percent).

Commenting on the research, Patrick Stannah, Managing Director at Stannah Stairlifts, said: “Continuing to learn and achieve lifelong goals is just as important to pensioners as it is to younger people. As this study shows, learning continues well into retirement and personal goals remain achievable for older people.

“We know learning a new skill is good for cognitive function and it’s clear that the UK population of 65 and overs appreciate the importance of maintaining an active mind.”

Operating in more than 40 countries, Stannah is a supplier of stairlifts, passenger lifts, escalators and moving walkways, vertical platform lifts, goods and service lifts. Since 1975, Stannah has sold over 600,000 stairlifts worldwide.

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