The post-retirement work support from an occupational perspective: A literature review of issues within the silver human resources center in Japan

Abstract

The number of working elderly in Japan has been increasing, and one-fifth of workers in 2016 were older than 60 years. Silver Human Resources Center (SHRC) is a Japanese organization provides post-retirement work. SHRC has a purpose resembles the philosophy of occupational therapy: to support retirees improve their well-being. The aim of this research is getting suggestions from an occupational perspective for post-retirement work support through a literature review of issues within the SHRC. The research was conducted in Cinii Articles with a keyword: “Silver Human Resources Center”. 31 Japanese studies were extracted from 211 results based on “aims” and “methods” description and 55 labels refer to issues of SHRC were extracted from them. The labels were analyzed based on a categorizing method to reveal the relation each other. 5 categories occurred. <A better matching of jobs with human resources> was a systematic issue of SHRC, and taking on this issue was important for <increasing active working>. In addition, a difficulty of proactive management by members and gathering new members were also identified as issues, and it was needed <to be matured as an organization>. This maturing was related to the propulsion of community-based efforts and being a place enables local residents to spend time with others. It means <to be a part of every day>, and efforts <to be a part of every day> and for <increasing active working> were expected to expand to support <not only member's working but also their lives>. Analyzed issues of SHRC seem to include an occupational perspective: to support one's occupation from personal history and environments. Therefore, occupational therapy may be able to contribute preventing from occupational crisis due to change ways of spending life after retirement. One of the important tasks is revealing the subjective experience process of life changing with retirement.