A Slight Change in Plans

RETIREMENT READY

COVID-19 has caused some Delaware County residents to reshape their retirement

As he began to see his retirement on the horizon, Rex Welker eased up on the gas and planned to cruise across the finish line at his own pace. The longtime photographer—whose career includes a stint at The Delaware Gazette—was spending the bulk of his work time doing individual and team sports pictures for Delaware City Schools and the YMCA, along with pictures for St. Mary's. He'd already told the city schools that the 2019-20 school year would be his last, and he had a general retirement date—"Probably sometime in 2021," he said— etched out in his mind.

Then COVID happened. In the early weeks of the pandemic, students were sent home from school and the YMCA closed. All sports photography came to a halt, and suddenly, Welker was faced with getting to retirement more quickly than planned. "Essentially, I've had no business. I didn't even get all of the last school year's pictures done," Welker said. "I decided after the YMCA closed and had no real immediate plans for reopening that I'd tell them I was going to retire." Welker is among the Delaware County residents—and others across the state and the country—who have had to rethink, recreate, or revamp their retirement plans due to the coronavirus. A study conducted by Edward Jones, "The Four Pillars of the New Retirement," states nearly 68 million adults in the U.S. and Canada have had to alter their retirement schedule as a result of COVID-19. The study also states 20 million Americans and two million Canadians stopped making retirement savings contributions during the pandemic.

Read more about the four pillars of retirement on page 12.

The 63-year-old Welker said while he hoped to be able to work a bit longer, he and his wife, a retired schoolteacher, shouldn't be too impacted by the need to advance his original retirement date. "I applied for Social Security for January 1," he said. "I've been putting into it since I was 15, and I'm fortunate that I've always put money in an IRA, which will pay for my health insurance."

Putting retirement on hold

While there are many in Welker's situation whose retirement is coming ahead of schedule due to work stoppages, there are others who, for one reason or another, have had to put retirement plans on hold. Delaware County resident Andy Kastle is a manufacturer's representative in the food service industry who had plans to retire this past June.

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"When COVID hit, we were all confined to our offices and taken off the road," said Kastle, who's been in the industry for about 35 years. "We had no contact with our customers. As of the middle of April, I was at my desk when I was used to being out on the road. We were hopeful then that business would start to trend back to normal in the summer, but COVID really impacted what we could do and who we could see."

The change in work environment made Kastle rethink his decision to retire in the summer.

"I knew it was a difficult time for the company to try and hire someone, and I decided it wasn't how I wanted to go out, so I said I'd stay until the end of December," he said. As of the time of Kastle's interview in November, he said half of his customer base was still not seeing their representatives. But even without things fully being back to normal, he was set in his decision. "I knew this would be my last year regardless of whether it ended in June or December," he said. "It's time for me to go, and I'm ready. There's another rep in our company who handles other parts of Ohio and has now been there a year and a half. They feel comfortable transitioning some of my business to that person, and it's made the transition for the company easier." A recent New York Times article states that many workers over 40 will need to work longer due to the pandemic and how it's affected their retirement from a financial standpoint. Kastle said he'd done some financial planning prior to deciding on his 2020 retirement, but he'll also "take it as it comes" in 2021 and adapt as needed. "I already do some volunteer work, and I've been active at St. Mary's Church and I'll probably step that up a bit, and then maybe something to generate some income," Kastle said. As for what he won't miss about the job? "I was driving to Dayton and Cincinnati weekly, and the winters were a little difficult," Kastle said. "I won't miss that."

Health is a factor

Information from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that older adults are at a higher risk than others of developing a serious illness from the coronavirus, particularly if dealing with other medical conditions. Ed Harden took that into careful consideration when deciding whether to retire from his factory job of 42 years. "I planned on retiring at 65, but with COVID we had several people off and I didn't want to take a chance getting it," Harden said. "I decided at the age of 62 I was going to retire." Harden's decision was reinforced by a prior medical condition that required him to have stents put in his heart. "Just the threat of getting it while having a weaker heart helped with the decision," he said. Harden said his wife, who works in human resources for Willow Brook, is joining him in retirement. Initially planning to also work until age 65, she retired in December. "She has to go between all three Willow Brook campuses for her job, and that's a big worry for her," Harden said. "We had a lot of work to do to determine benefits in order for us both to retire, but we've saved our whole lives and I think we have it figured out." The pandemic has caused Harden and his wife to take similar health-related precautions in their personal lives, as well. "We don't go out to eat in restaurants, and we do wear our masks all the time," he said. "Back in the spring, we'd order groceries and have them delivered and we'll probably start doing that again."

An impact on socialization

For many, the coronavirus has impacted more than just the "when" of retirement. It's also affected what can be done in retirement, and with whom. Jan Wiltjer is a certified Shiatsu therapist who's had an office in Worthington, volunteered for Hospice, and provided programs for a nonprofit at Ohio State University's James Cancer Center called JamesCare for Life. "I've always been a busy type of person," said Wiltjer, who also did food prep work for the Olentangy Local School District. "My sister-in-law worked in the Westerville schools and suggested that to me. I worked in Westerville for a little while and then at Olentangy. I was prepping and serving food, and I worked the cash register. I got to see the kids and work with good people. I don't have that income now due to COVID." See CHANGE on page 6.

Change From page 5

More importantly for Wiltjer, she doesn't have the day-to-day interaction with people, which is what she misses most. "I've had to cut into my savings more; the income I had at the schools would pay for food and things like that. But we own our house and I've been very blessed. But it has affected me very much socially," Wiltjer said. "I'm definitely a people person. I haven't gone back to the schools, but I'm hoping to go back." She has found a way to keep busy, however, while helping others in the meantime. "I had been a driver for Meals on Wheels in 2016-2017, but then my aunt in North Carolina was ill so I went there to help her," Wiltjer said. "Once COVID hit, I knew SourcePoint needed more volunteers, and I was going stir crazy. I called and came in when they were reintroducing more of the inside work." Wiltjer was informed in the fall that, because she is an inside Meals on Wheels volunteer and helps load the cars, she will have to be tested every two weeks for COVID, per the health order related to senior centers. "I'm good with that," she said. "I think we have a civic duty and human obligation to help others." Wiltjer said she's made a point to be careful with all of the other County resident who: "In the beginning we'd just stay

Is about to be evicted?

to eat. And luckily I'm not health classes and said she's thankful for the socialization that technology Harden said he and his wife have had to put their retirement travel visiting us on the web at: plans on hold, but he knows it's safer to wait. "If everything was normal, we'd be traveling, but that won't happen for a while," he said. "Most of the family is in the area, but we haven't seen each other due to this. We just keep it to immediate family." Harden has been able to stick to his weekly walking regimen for his health, but said he's hoping to make that a more social activity soon. "I set up an elliptical and treadmill when it gets colder, but hopefully I can get back to SourcePoint," he said. Kastle said plans to go to Florida later in the winter are still on the calendar, but he's prepared to alter those plans if the pandemic calls for it, much like he did with his retirement

plans and his plans for gatherings over the holidays. "It's unfortunate, but this will get behind us at some point," Kastle said.

Welker said he's also limited time with family, and travel restrictions have helped make his retirement a reality. "Part of the reason I can take early retirement is we can't travel anywhere, so that won't cost us money. Traveling gets expensive, so I'm fine with that," Welker said. "I had definitely planned on working a bit longer, but it is what it is. I can't blame anyone for COVID, and we were pretty well prepared for retirement. I was already working my way there." Jeff Robinson is a feature writer for

socialization she does, too. outside to visit with family. I think around Mother's Day we actually went in my daughter's house," she said. "Wearing a mask is normal. We don't really go out compromised." She's conducting virtual Shiatsu permits.

Are you a Delaware

Needs an emergency supply of food? Is about to have your water turned off? Has run out of a life sustaining prescription?

If this describes what you are going through, you should call us at (740) 363-6284 or visit our office at 138 Johnson Drive, Delaware. You can also e-mail us at info@delawarepeopleinneed.org. We may be able to help you so you have time to find a long term solution to your problem.

People In Need, Inc. of Delaware County Ohio (PIN) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity that is dedicated to assisting families and individuals of Delaware County in a collaborative effort by providing personal emergency assistance with dignity and respect in their time of need.

You can learn more about PIN by My Communicator.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS The Year of Grief—and What Comes Next

2020 has certainly proven to be a year full of challenges, and unfortunately, these challenges continue.

Our world and how we navigate it has changed in many ways. We have experienced many losses. These losses may be in the form of canceled weddings or other family events, postponed trips, graduations, sporting events, or just school as it used to be. We miss our friends and coworkers, our old routines, and mostly, our ability to have some control. These changes have left us with a whirlwind of emotions. We have become irritable, sad, anxious, and fearful. This is grief and this is what grief does. Grief is a normal reaction to loss—whatever the loss may be. Then, there have been the deaths. The deaths of family and friends who have died alone. The funerals that could not happen because we could not gather. There are multiple layers of loss, therefore multiple layers of grief. Some common—and normal—signs of grief include: • The inability to focus on tasks, lack of concentration even on mundane tasks. Being angry or irritable. Lack of energy and fatigue. Lingering sadness. Feelings of isolation. • Increase in somatic symptoms, such as headache, body aches, or infections as immunity declines.

It is extremely important to recognize the symptoms of grief, which let us know that we need to pay attention to what we need to heal.

As we go into 2021, there are several things that may help ease our grief. Practice good self-care. Do something that brings you joy. Take a walk, attend a virtual exercise class, or meditate. Give yourself time to grieve. The process of grief can take a while, so don’t rush yourself into “being better.” Grief takes as long as it takes and everyone grieves differently.

Know that whatever emotion you feel

is OK. It is OK to be angry or sad. It is even OK to be happy or feel joy. You have to give yourself permission to feel what you feel. Try not to isolate. Even while social distancing. Reach out by Zoom or text message, which will also help others who are isolated. Any interaction is beneficial at this time.

Seek support. Identify family or friends who will allow you to verbalize feelings and will lend a compassionate ear. Don’t be afraid to seek professional support if you feel your grief interfering with daily functioning. Counselors are offering virtual visits so there is no need for contact. Google "grief support" for options available in your area. Journal. Even if you just write down a few feelings a day. It helps to be able to look back and see that you have made progress in how you feel.

Find something to be grateful for every

day. It keeps us centered. Source: Pamela Gompf, OhioHealth At Home, Manager of Bereavement Services, OhioHealth Hospice. Learn more at ohiohealth.org.