German pensioners live quite comfortably, cheerfully, and freely
As Deutsche Welle reports, 4,100 men and women aged 65 to 85 participated in the survey. It turned out that the elderly (along with, by the way, teenagers and young people) are the happiest people in Germany. 85 percent of respondents are satisfied with life, 15 percent of them are even very satisfied. Only one percent is very dissatisfied. At the same time, there is practically no difference between residents of western and eastern parts of Germany.
It is also interesting that only a third of German pensioners consider old age and, so to speak, its accompanying problems (illnesses, lower mobility, etc.) a heavy burden. A third of respondents are convinced that retirement age actually provides new opportunities: more free time, the ability to travel more often, engage in various hobbies, and so on. Another third believe that the pros and cons of old age balance each other out.
Some questions concerned the financial situation of pensioners. It has noticeably improved compared to 2012, when the last similar study of this level was conducted. The monthly income of respondents currently averages 2,410 euros "net" per pensioner household (also if the household consists of one person). So to speak, each person has 628 euros of "pocket money" left per month. Five years ago, it was one hundred euros less.
Logically, more than half of German seniors rate their financial situation as "good" or "very good." Another third call it "satisfactory." Only 6 percent complain that they have little money.
At the same time, quite a few pensioners – about one in four – continue to work. True, no more than two days a week, but still. But they do not work for money. The main reasons, according to German seniors: the pleasure they get from continuing to work, the desire to stay physically fit and not deteriorate intellectually, and contact with other people. The opportunity to earn extra money on top of their pension, as well as boredom, are in last place.
Note that in this case, we are only talking about paid work. Helping others on a voluntary basis, charitable activities, singing in a church choir do not fall into this category. About 40 percent of respondents are active in these areas.
Another important category of questions concerned a problem that cannot be assessed with numbers or sums of money. We are talking about loneliness. How do German seniors feel? Do they have friends, partners, or relatives with whom they maintain constant contact and communicate regularly? Will someone help them in a difficult moment? As they say, bring them a glass of water? And here the results of the sociological study are encouraging. Only one in a hundred German seniors complains of loneliness.