What Do Boomers Think About Turning 60?

During 2006, the first wave of baby boomers turned 60. An American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) telephone survey of a national sample of 800 boomers born in 1946 explores their thoughts about the significance of reaching this milestone, and assesses their satisfaction with their lives up to now, personal goals and expectations for the future.

While substantially satisfied with their lives, most are optimistically making plans for making the future even better. Only 1% see age as a barrier to achieving their goals.

Virtually all have some substantial life change they want to make:
–87% want to take better care of their physical health

–72% plan to spend more time on interests and hobbies

–47% want to do more volunteering

Work is likely to continue to play a major role their lives. Currently:
–54% are still working (compared to 74% of all boomers)

–54% of those still working plan to quit as soon as they can, but 37% plan to work until I drop

–14% of those not working plan to go back to work in the next few years

Comparing the significance of turning 60 with turning 50:
–37% feel it is more significant

–30% say both are equal

–17% consider it less significant

The survey was conducted for AARP by ICR/International Communication Research between March 23rd and April 10th, 2006. (Although not intended as a survey of AARP members per se, 46% of respondents identified themselves as members, compared to 30% of all eligible boomers.)