"You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old,” the comedian George Burns once said. If you know who Burns is, you might be heading toward what was once called “your golden years.” At a time when youth tend to dominate cultural conversations and “old-timers” like Burns aren’t familiar to younger audiences, Rhode Island is challenging the narrative about those golden years. A full quarter of Rhode Island’s population is over 60, and 18 percent are over 65, according to Age-Friendly Rhode Island, an initiative at Rhode Island College. Across the state, aging isn’t about retreat. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and redefining what those years can look like.
Narragansett’s Laurie O’Rourke and her late husband, Michael, began planning for retirement in their 20s. “One of the smartest decisions my husband and I made was investing in property,” she says. “Our approach was always to buy the worst house in the best location.” In time, those investments allowed Michael to pursue his dream of owning an Irish pub, and in 2006, O’Rourke’s Bar and Grill opened in the Pawtuxet Village section of Warwick. But in 2012, Michael, in his 40s, passed away from lymphoma. Laurie, an RN at Kent County Hospital, had a decision to make about the pub. “I chose to leave nursing,” she explains. “I had no prior experience as a bartender or waitress, but I worked tirelessly,” she says. “I was incredibly proud of my husband’s accomplishments, and I wanted to honor his legacy. I was 50 years old when I embraced this new chapter.”
And now, after 14 years of running the pub, O’Rourke is newly retired. “I began seriously planning for retirement about two years ago, when I was 62 years old,” she says. “My decision was influenced by my age, the desire to spend more time with my grandchildren (she has three so far), and financial readiness.” O’Rourke says she realized it was time to step back and enjoy the life she had worked so hard to build. “That’s when I knew it was the right time to retire. I feel wonderful and very proud of myself. I’m also deeply proud of my children, who supported me unconditionally. I often find myself reflecting and thinking, “How on earth did I do this?”
What do you do, though, if you didn’t start early and plan well, like the O’Rourke’s did? “It’s never too late,” says Anthony Lemonde, owner of Senior’s Choice Rhode Island, who advises on issues such as planning well when it comes to insurance and Medicare. “We empower people with knowledge so they can make decisions that are cost-effective and responsible,” he says.
For a time, Providence resident Eleanor Clift was afraid it was indeed too late. Clift was a state employee when in 2011, then-Governor Gina Raimondo overhauled the underfunded pension system. Though Raimondo’s efforts were largely lauded, it left Clift, then 53, and many state employees in a panic. “I thought I knew down to the dime what I’d make when I retired, and that changed,” Clift says. She met with a certified financial planner, who looked carefully at her budget, advising maximizing catch-up 401(k) and IRA contributions, building an emergency fund, eliminating debt, and focusing on retirement over other expenses. “I was able not only to catch up, but because of those efforts, I had managed to put away an extra $100,000,” she says. “It felt good.”
If you’ve hit your 50s and suddenly realized your retirement savings are barely getting started, or worse, still nonexistent, you’re not alone. But Rhode Island offers practical resources and financial strategies to help you catch up smartly
and with dignity. For example, the recently launched Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program is a portable, Roth IRA-based plan allowing private-sector workers without retirement options to save through payroll deductions. As General Treasurer James Diossa puts it, this initiative “will transform retirement in our state and help the 40 percent of Rhode Island private sector employees with little or no retirement savings prepare for a comfortable, dignified life after work.” Consider, too, the Rhode Island Aging and Disability Resource Center, which can connect you to home-based and financial support services, while senior centers and public libraries like Cranston’s offer free workshops, tax prep, and community connection.
Unfortunately, even the best planning and advice won’t enhance your life if you’re housebound. One of the easiest things you can do to ensure happier later years is to move your body. Let’s not even use the often-intimidating label “exercising.” “The ability to increase circulation in legs and arms with a recumbent bike, treadmills, swimming, pool classes, vibration plates, and stretching is an overall health benefit,” says Dr. Sherry Morrissette, a chiropractic neurologist at the Chiropractic Neurology Center of West Greenwich. But it doesn’t even have to be that involved. “Suggestions for the over-60 population to maintain mobility as they age would be to walk briskly each day and drink plenty of water while decreasing caffeine consumption,” Morrissette says.
As we age, the inevitability of declining health becomes real, and issues with eyesight, hearing, and balance might be the early birds to the party. Places that are most familiar to you in your home could become gauntlets. According to David Austin, president of Lift and Care Systems in Lakeville, Massachusetts, “The most dangerous and difficult areas for people as we age in place are bathrooms and staircases. Having appropriately placed hand railings, grab bars, and stairlifts will greatly assist with staying healthy and mobile,” he says.
Justin Oakley, co-owner of Oakley Home Services, agrees. “Learning about these options gives individuals over 60 a nice blueprint of what they can do to their home to help maximize their mobility,” he says. “It can help them safely and comfortably age in place in the home they know and love.”
Should you find yourself in the doctor’s office, though, experts agree the best approach to advocating for yourself is twofold. “Make a list of all your health questions and write down the answers,” says Morrissette. “Also, bring someone to your appointment who can help you understand and support you through your health journey.” And when you’re asking questions, remember, says Oakley, that doctors aren’t just diagnosticians. Ideally, they serve as resources to the larger healthcare community. “In our industry, it is all about resources. We encourage individuals to ask their physicians about resources that are available in the community, including access to specific equipment, services, or funding,” he explains.
When it comes to resources for health insurance, check out organizations such as AARP or HealthSource Rhode Island. “Having spent my career in healthcare and witnessing my husband’s lymphoma diagnosis at just 42, one lesson became undeniably clear: your health is everything,” says O’Rourke. “Because of that experience, having a strong health plan was always one of my top priorities – you don’t realize how essential it is until you truly need it.”
If you’re intent on maximizing your health and wellness, continuing to learn new skills as you age will make an enormous difference, according to AARP. Learning reignites the brain – 55 percent of Americans aged 45-plus are actively learning for personal growth, and motivations include cognitive sharpness and self-improvement. By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older, according to the organization, creating accessible opportunities for continuous and later-learning can help extend workforce participation, boost economic mobility, and extend social engagement.
Locally, both the University of Rhode Island and Brown offer “lifelong learning” programs. At URI, for example, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) established in 2009, boasts 1,500 members aged 50 and up. OLLI offers 250+ non-credit courses taught by professors or experts, ranging from history to expressive arts. As Executive Director Beth Leconte says, the institute fosters “opportunities to continue learning, satisfy their curiosities, make new acquaintances and express their creativity in a true community setting.”
As John Lennon once said, “life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” So, as well prepared for retirement as you may feel, illness or other circumstances might derail your, or your parents’, plans for sailing into the sunset. When Erin Kaufman of Warwick and her siblings had to face their parents’ simultaneous dementia diagnoses, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation. Homes had to be cleaned out and sold, powers of attorney signed, finances wrangled, and assisted living and nursing homes assessed. “It was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do,” says Kaufman.
Stefany Reed is a certified dementia practitioner at Briarcliffe Manor Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Johnston. “None of us, or very few of us, ever come to terms with the fact that we won’t be exactly as we are now. And then we have a health scare or a fall, which necessitates care. And that includes our aging parents,” she says.
For Kaufman’s parents, the decline initially happened gradually, but escalated quickly. “The tell-tale signs are many small things that alone don’t cause concern, but can add up,” says Reed, “confusion, financial mismanagement, falls, hygiene issues, spoiled food, not eating right, depression, and anxiety, to name a few.”
Finding the best place for parents who can no longer thrive on their own requires an often-lengthy research process. “Sometimes we don’t have the time for much research or preparation because something happens suddenly and we find ourselves in crisis mode,” Reed says. Her advice? “Avoid online search companies,” she says. “They turn your information over to people who pay them for referrals and you will be inundated by sales calls. If you must use a placement agency, look for a local individual like a geriatric care manager or care concierge,” she suggests. Or, she says, go to medicare.gov to find highly-rated skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in your area. “Then, take time to visit, schedule an in-person tour, and get to know the people who will assist you when the time comes to make a move.
By all means, Reed says, put aside feelings of guilt. “Elderly people need socialization. People say they do not want to be a burden to their families. You may be saying to yourself now, ‘my mom would never be a burden but in her mind, you not living your best life to care for her becomes a heavy emotional burden she will carry. Home is not always the best place – whether it’s their home or yours.
With a little planning and some good luck, today’s aging population can look forward to many more years of health, wealth, and happiness. Staying active and continuing to strengthen social bonds will pay off in the long run. “At O’Rourke’s, our sign reads ‘It’s a Wonderful Life!’ — my husband’s favorite movie,” O’Rourke says. “But more importantly, it’s how we truly lived our lives. For us, it has always been about health, family, and friends,” she says. “It’s because of that love and support that I was able to accomplish everything I did. Sláinte!”
A comprehensive list, including locations, descriptions of their offerings, and websites for more information.
Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)
Offers GED prep, English Language Studies, workforce training, and degree or certificate programs. Evening, weekend, and online options available. Multiple campuses (Warwick, Lincoln, Providence, Newport, Westerly), CCRI.edu
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at URI
Membership-based program for adults aged 50+, offering courses, special interest groups, and travel programs. Kingston, Web.URI.edu/OLLI
Providence Public Library
Adult enrichment provides free programs, including workshops, technology training, and workforce development opportunities. Providence, ProvLib.org
Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE)
RIDE funds 19 adult education providers offering classes in basic literacy, GED prep, ESOL, job skills training, and citizenship prep. In-person, online, and hybrid options available. Various locations, EnrollRI.org/AdultEd
Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services
Adult education partnerships offer literacy, ESOL, and citizenship classes through RIFLI, plus online learning tools. Providence Place Library and statewide libraries, OLIS.RI.gov
Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning (RIRAL)
Nonprofit learning center offering GED, ABE, ESOL, college prep, career counseling, and industry certification testing. Woonsocket, RIRAL.org
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Continuing Education
Art and design courses for adults, including certificate programs and enrichment classes, in-person and online. Providence; Tillinghast Place in Barrington; Westerly Education Center, CE.RISD.edu
University of Rhode Island Continuing Education & Professional Development
Offers professional certificates, online courses, and graduate programs. Includes OLLI for adults 50+. Kingston, URI.edu/academics/continuing-education
If you’ve experienced frustration with the traditional model of doctor visits, you might want to know about concierge care. It’s a new model that gives you, for a surprisingly affordable monthly fee, direct access to a doctor or nurse practitioner, minus the long wait times and insurance hassles. Witnessing patient frustration in healthcare first-hand, Sarah McGinley, an advanced practice registered nurse, decided to open Weatherly Direct Primary Care in Wakefield. “After 12 years in healthcare, I saw the flaws in the current insurance-based practice model and wanted to be a part of something that offers better access and care for my patients without all the middlemen,” McGinley says. It might just be the cure we all need.
Specialties: Auto, Home, Life; mutual insurer
Lincoln, Amica.com
Specialties: Personal and commercial insurance, contractor, and bonding specialty
East Greenwich, DaceyInsurance.com
Specialties: Property and casualty, personal and business coverage
Cranston, Damiano-agency.com
Specialties: Independent agency; property & casualty across RI, MA, CT
Multiple RI offices, GrahamInsuranceInc.com
Specialties: General lines; division of Starkweather & Shepley
Middletown/Newport, StarShep.com
Specialties: General lines; division of Starkweather & Shepley
Providence, StarShep.com
Specialties: Employee benefits brokerage, group medical, dental, disability, voluntary products
Providence, Operates under Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Specialties: Business & personal insurance, risk management, benefits, niche industries
East Providence, StarShep.com
Specialties: Personal and commercial insurance, bonds, marine, and recreational
East Providence, Operates under Cross Insurance
Do a deep dive into RIC’s Healthy Aging Data Report with interactive maps, resources, and statistics about health and wellness.
HealthyAgingDataReports.org
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