Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Finnish pensioners feel that retirees are viewed as a burden to society, according to a survey by Finnish earnings-related pension provider Ilmarinen.

The survey of 1,404 pensioners in February and March also found that just over half (52 per cent) believe that old age is regarded as a fairly or very negative thing.

In its survey, Ilmarinen examined attitudes toward age, financial security in retirement, and preparedness for later life, including pensioners’ financial situation and views on longevity.

Overall, 46 per cent of respondents felt very secure in old age, while a third viewed it neutrally, but one in five found it fairly or very frightening.

Furthermore, 72 per cent of respondents felt that society does not sufficiently take into account the needs of older people. Concerns related to social and healthcare services, as nearly two in three believe older people do not receive the services they need.

Looking 10 years ahead, only 20 per cent believe they will easily access necessary services if their functional capacity declines.

Commenting, Ilmarinen researcher, Jouni Vatanen, said: “It is striking that so many doubt whether they will receive the support they need in old age. This points to a crack in trust in whether society can care for older people.”

Respondents were also asked how they experienced transitioning into the role of a pensioner and whether anything about retirement surprised them.

For most (61 per cent), adapting to the role felt natural. The biggest surprises were the need to create new daily routines (39 per cent), losing contact with colleagues (34 per cent), and tighter finances (31 per cent).

“Although most adjust naturally to being a pensioner, for many, the biggest change is that daily rhythm and routines are no longer given but must be built independently. This is an interesting finding, as retirement is usually something people consider for a long time,” Vatanen noted.

The survey also found that confidence in one's financial situation influences expectations of retirement.

However, financial security alone does not explain how smooth the transition is: even among those who felt their pension was insufficient, more than half (55 per cent) described the transition as easy and natural. Only 8 per cent said retiring was surprisingly difficult.

Furthermore, 89 per cent of respondents believe that older people have valuable experience and perspectives that should be heard and made visible. However, only about one in 10 felt that others see them as an asset.

“It is unfortunate that pensioners do not feel valued. In reality, they have many roles and responsibilities in society that often go unnoticed. They frequently care for grandchildren, act as informal caregivers, run associations, and are an important group of consumers and taxpayers,” Vatanen said.

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