Abstract

The objective of the present study is to understand how the retirement process influences the occupational performance of the recently retired elders. To achieve this, retirement related concepts are studied and analysed from the point of view of different disciplines. The comprehension of the “occupation” concept is also needed, to be able to associate the occupational performance that retired elders adopt in different areas (Activities of Daily Living, Productivity and Play Activities) with the approach given by the Model of Human Occupation. To be able to identify this relation, several interviews were done to participants of both sexes and that were retired for no more than three years. The interviews were designed using an evaluation instrument created from the OPHI-II. The results of this study show that the retirement process does not cause an occupational unbalance, and that these individuals are able to adapt to the process, creating a new structure in their lives and allowing them to reach a competent level in the different occupations in which they are involved.