60% of People in their 30s-50s Have 'Never Thought About Their Post-Retirement Life' – What are the Triggers to Start Thinking?
Approximately 60% of people in their 30s-50s have not considered their post-retirement life. The most common trigger for starting to think about it is age awareness, with parental care experience also being significant. End-of-life planning is not yet widespread, but consideration for family is a key motivation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 10:15
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 00:42 (374h 27m after Collected)
■ Awareness of "Post-Retirement Life" and "End-of-Life Planning" among People in their 30s to 50s
In an era often called "the age of 100-year lifespans," are opportunities to think about one's own post-retirement life increasing? Many may be caught up in daily life while still harboring vague anxieties about the future.
Therefore, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai, we conducted a survey on "one's own post-retirement life and end-of-life planning" targeting 416 men and women in their 30s to 50s nationwide.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please follow these guidelines:
・State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Inc. and Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai."
・Include a link to Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai (https://shuhokai.or.jp/).
"Survey on One's Own Post-Retirement Life and End-of-Life Planning" Overview
Survey Method: Online questionnaire
Survey Period: January 13, 2026 – January 20, 2026
Target Respondents: Men and women in their 30s to 50s nationwide
Valid Responses: 416 samples
Questions:
Question 1: Have you ever thought about your post-retirement life?
Question 2: What prompted you to start thinking about your post-retirement life? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 3: What kind of lifestyle do you hope for in your post-retirement life?
Question 4: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
Question 5: Have you started any preparations for "end-of-life planning"?
Question 6: Specifically, what kind of end-of-life planning are you doing? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 7: Please tell us why you have started end-of-life planning.
Question 8: Please tell us why you have not started end-of-life planning.
Question 9: When you become the recipient of care, what is your biggest concern?
Question 10: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
*As a general rule, percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.
■ 59.1% responded, "I have never thought about my post-retirement life."
First, we asked if respondents had ever thought about their post-retirement life.
40.9% answered "Yes," while 59.1%, more than half, answered "No." It seems that many people in the prime working age of 30s to 50s have not yet specifically thought about their post-retirement life.
■ 78.2% responded that the trigger for thinking about post-retirement life was "becoming conscious of their age."
Next, we asked those who answered "Yes" to having thought about their post-retirement life what prompted them to start thinking about it.
The most common answer was "becoming conscious of my age" at 78.2%. This was followed by "seeing the post-retirement life/care of parents or close relatives" at 35.3%, and "health concerns emerging" at 28.2%.
While becoming conscious of one's own age is the biggest trigger, experiencing or witnessing the care of close relatives also seems to be a significant opportunity to consider one's post-retirement life.
■ 45.7% responded that they "want to live with family at home" in their post-retirement life.
Next, we asked what kind of lifestyle they hoped for in their post-retirement life.
"Want to live with family at home" was the most common at 45.7%, followed by "live alone at home" at 36.5%, and "want to enter a facility for the elderly" at 17.8%.
We asked those who gave each answer for their reasons, and here are some of them:
"Want to live with family at home"
・Because it seems less lonely to be with family. (50s, Male)
・I want to be with my spouse as long as we both live, but if I were left alone, I would want to enter an elderly care facility to avoid a lonely death. (50s, Female)
・I want to be able to do things for myself and remain independent until the end without bothering others. (50s, Female)
"Live alone at home"
・Because living with other people becomes stressful. (50s, Female)
・I don't have a spouse, so I have to manage on my own. (30s, Male)
・Being alone is easy. If I die alone, then that's that. (50s, Female)
"Want to enter a facility for the elderly"
・Considering the possibility of bothering family and others, I'd like to enter a facility while I'm still healthy. (40s, Male)
・If I'm alone, I don't know when something might happen, and if discovery is delayed, it will cause trouble for everyone. (50s, Male)
・I don't want to bother my children. (50s, Female)
Those who wish to live with family tended to cite "sense of security" and "alleviating loneliness" as reasons. On the other hand, those who prefer living alone or in a facility expressed feelings of "ease" and "not wanting to bother others."
■ 68.8% responded that they "haven't thought much" about end-of-life planning.
Next, we asked if they had started any preparations for "end-of-life planning."
"Haven't thought much about it" was the most common at 68.8%, followed by "interested but haven't started yet" at 25.5%, and "already started" was a mere 5.8%.
Next, we asked those who had already started end-of-life planning what specific activities they were undertaking.
"Decluttering/organizing belongings" was the most common at 58.3%, followed by "creating an ending note" at 54.2%, "organizing funeral wishes" at 29.2%, and "organizing assets/insurance" and "considering graves/memorial services" both at 25.0%.
■ The main reason for starting end-of-life planning is "not wanting to bother family."
We asked those who had already started end-of-life planning for their reasons.
Please tell us why you have started end-of-life planning.
・I started end-of-life planning so as not to bother my family or relatives if I were to pass away suddenly. (50s, Male)
・Because you never know when an accident or illness might lead to death, regardless of lifespan. (30s, Female)
・Both my mother and mother-in-law developed dementia, which made me worry about my own old age. (50s, Female)
On the other hand, we asked those who had not yet started end-of-life planning for their reasons.
Please tell us why you have not started end-of-life planning.
・I don't think it's the right time to think about it yet, given my age. (30s, Female)
・I don't know where to start. (50s, Female)
・Thinking about it makes me feel bad, and when you die, you die anyway. (50s, Male)
It is clear that those who have started end-of-life planning are taking action out of consideration for their family and those around them. Reasons for not starting end-of-life planning often included "it's still too early" or "it's not the right time."
■ 30.0% responded that "burden on family" was their biggest concern when receiving care.
Finally, we asked what their biggest concern would be if they were to become a recipient of care.
"Burden on family" was the most common at 30.0%, followed by "care costs/living expenses" at 26.9%, "inability to move as desired" at 11.5%, and "developing dementia" at 10.1%.
We also asked for specific reasons for their answers, and here are some of them:
"Burden on family"
・Because I experienced caring for my own father and understood how difficult it is. (50s, Male)
・It's not just the cost, but also the time, effort, and various other ways it causes trouble. (40s, Female)
・I want my children to enjoy their own lives. (50s, Female)
"Care costs/living expenses"
・Because I have no idea how much it will cost. (30s, Female)
・I'm worried because I don't know how much care costs will be when I can no longer move on my own. (50s, Male)
・Because if funds are insufficient, I won't be able to receive the services I desire. (50s, Female)
"Inability to move as desired"
・Because seeing my parents makes me anxious that I might end up in the same situation. (50s, Female)
・Since I'm alone, I can't do anything if my body doesn't move. (50s, Female)
"Developing dementia"
・Because the burden on those around me is great when I have dementia, and I won't be able to realize it myself. (40s, Male)
・My grandmother has dementia, and my family, including myself, is struggling greatly. (40s, Female)
Many of the anxieties regarding care seem to stem from the desire "not to bother family." Those who have actually experienced caring for parents shared heartfelt voices born from knowing the difficulties firsthand.
■ Summary
This survey revealed that approximately 60% of people in their 30s to 50s have not yet thought about their post-retirement life. Furthermore, about 70% had not thought much about end-of-life planning.
On the other hand, many cited "becoming conscious of their age" and "seeing the care of parents or close relatives" as triggers for starting to think about post-retirement life, indicating that life changes and changes in one's surroundings serve as catalysts for reflection.
While many may feel that it's "still too early" to think about post-retirement life and end-of-life planning, it's important to start considering it little by little while still healthy.
In an era often called "the age of 100-year lifespans," are opportunities to think about one's own post-retirement life increasing? Many may be caught up in daily life while still harboring vague anxieties about the future.
Therefore, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai, we conducted a survey on "one's own post-retirement life and end-of-life planning" targeting 416 men and women in their 30s to 50s nationwide.
*When quoting the content of this press release, please follow these guidelines:
・State that the source is "a survey by NEXER Inc. and Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai."
・Include a link to Social Welfare Corporation Shuho-kai (https://shuhokai.or.jp/).
"Survey on One's Own Post-Retirement Life and End-of-Life Planning" Overview
Survey Method: Online questionnaire
Survey Period: January 13, 2026 – January 20, 2026
Target Respondents: Men and women in their 30s to 50s nationwide
Valid Responses: 416 samples
Questions:
Question 1: Have you ever thought about your post-retirement life?
Question 2: What prompted you to start thinking about your post-retirement life? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 3: What kind of lifestyle do you hope for in your post-retirement life?
Question 4: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
Question 5: Have you started any preparations for "end-of-life planning"?
Question 6: Specifically, what kind of end-of-life planning are you doing? (Multiple answers allowed)
Question 7: Please tell us why you have started end-of-life planning.
Question 8: Please tell us why you have not started end-of-life planning.
Question 9: When you become the recipient of care, what is your biggest concern?
Question 10: Please tell us the reason for your answer.
*As a general rule, percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not always be 100%.
■ 59.1% responded, "I have never thought about my post-retirement life."
First, we asked if respondents had ever thought about their post-retirement life.
40.9% answered "Yes," while 59.1%, more than half, answered "No." It seems that many people in the prime working age of 30s to 50s have not yet specifically thought about their post-retirement life.
■ 78.2% responded that the trigger for thinking about post-retirement life was "becoming conscious of their age."
Next, we asked those who answered "Yes" to having thought about their post-retirement life what prompted them to start thinking about it.
The most common answer was "becoming conscious of my age" at 78.2%. This was followed by "seeing the post-retirement life/care of parents or close relatives" at 35.3%, and "health concerns emerging" at 28.2%.
While becoming conscious of one's own age is the biggest trigger, experiencing or witnessing the care of close relatives also seems to be a significant opportunity to consider one's post-retirement life.
■ 45.7% responded that they "want to live with family at home" in their post-retirement life.
Next, we asked what kind of lifestyle they hoped for in their post-retirement life.
"Want to live with family at home" was the most common at 45.7%, followed by "live alone at home" at 36.5%, and "want to enter a facility for the elderly" at 17.8%.
We asked those who gave each answer for their reasons, and here are some of them:
"Want to live with family at home"
・Because it seems less lonely to be with family. (50s, Male)
・I want to be with my spouse as long as we both live, but if I were left alone, I would want to enter an elderly care facility to avoid a lonely death. (50s, Female)
・I want to be able to do things for myself and remain independent until the end without bothering others. (50s, Female)
"Live alone at home"
・Because living with other people becomes stressful. (50s, Female)
・I don't have a spouse, so I have to manage on my own. (30s, Male)
・Being alone is easy. If I die alone, then that's that. (50s, Female)
"Want to enter a facility for the elderly"
・Considering the possibility of bothering family and others, I'd like to enter a facility while I'm still healthy. (40s, Male)
・If I'm alone, I don't know when something might happen, and if discovery is delayed, it will cause trouble for everyone. (50s, Male)
・I don't want to bother my children. (50s, Female)
Those who wish to live with family tended to cite "sense of security" and "alleviating loneliness" as reasons. On the other hand, those who prefer living alone or in a facility expressed feelings of "ease" and "not wanting to bother others."
■ 68.8% responded that they "haven't thought much" about end-of-life planning.
Next, we asked if they had started any preparations for "end-of-life planning."
"Haven't thought much about it" was the most common at 68.8%, followed by "interested but haven't started yet" at 25.5%, and "already started" was a mere 5.8%.
Next, we asked those who had already started end-of-life planning what specific activities they were undertaking.
"Decluttering/organizing belongings" was the most common at 58.3%, followed by "creating an ending note" at 54.2%, "organizing funeral wishes" at 29.2%, and "organizing assets/insurance" and "considering graves/memorial services" both at 25.0%.
■ The main reason for starting end-of-life planning is "not wanting to bother family."
We asked those who had already started end-of-life planning for their reasons.
Please tell us why you have started end-of-life planning.
・I started end-of-life planning so as not to bother my family or relatives if I were to pass away suddenly. (50s, Male)
・Because you never know when an accident or illness might lead to death, regardless of lifespan. (30s, Female)
・Both my mother and mother-in-law developed dementia, which made me worry about my own old age. (50s, Female)
On the other hand, we asked those who had not yet started end-of-life planning for their reasons.
Please tell us why you have not started end-of-life planning.
・I don't think it's the right time to think about it yet, given my age. (30s, Female)
・I don't know where to start. (50s, Female)
・Thinking about it makes me feel bad, and when you die, you die anyway. (50s, Male)
It is clear that those who have started end-of-life planning are taking action out of consideration for their family and those around them. Reasons for not starting end-of-life planning often included "it's still too early" or "it's not the right time."
■ 30.0% responded that "burden on family" was their biggest concern when receiving care.
Finally, we asked what their biggest concern would be if they were to become a recipient of care.
"Burden on family" was the most common at 30.0%, followed by "care costs/living expenses" at 26.9%, "inability to move as desired" at 11.5%, and "developing dementia" at 10.1%.
We also asked for specific reasons for their answers, and here are some of them:
"Burden on family"
・Because I experienced caring for my own father and understood how difficult it is. (50s, Male)
・It's not just the cost, but also the time, effort, and various other ways it causes trouble. (40s, Female)
・I want my children to enjoy their own lives. (50s, Female)
"Care costs/living expenses"
・Because I have no idea how much it will cost. (30s, Female)
・I'm worried because I don't know how much care costs will be when I can no longer move on my own. (50s, Male)
・Because if funds are insufficient, I won't be able to receive the services I desire. (50s, Female)
"Inability to move as desired"
・Because seeing my parents makes me anxious that I might end up in the same situation. (50s, Female)
・Since I'm alone, I can't do anything if my body doesn't move. (50s, Female)
"Developing dementia"
・Because the burden on those around me is great when I have dementia, and I won't be able to realize it myself. (40s, Male)
・My grandmother has dementia, and my family, including myself, is struggling greatly. (40s, Female)
Many of the anxieties regarding care seem to stem from the desire "not to bother family." Those who have actually experienced caring for parents shared heartfelt voices born from knowing the difficulties firsthand.
■ Summary
This survey revealed that approximately 60% of people in their 30s to 50s have not yet thought about their post-retirement life. Furthermore, about 70% had not thought much about end-of-life planning.
On the other hand, many cited "becoming conscious of their age" and "seeing the care of parents or close relatives" as triggers for starting to think about post-retirement life, indicating that life changes and changes in one's surroundings serve as catalysts for reflection.
While many may feel that it's "still too early" to think about post-retirement life and end-of-life planning, it's important to start considering it little by little while still healthy.
FAQ
What percentage of people in their 30s-50s have not thought about their post-retirement life?
According to the survey, approximately 60% (59.1%) of people in their 30s-50s have never specifically thought about their post-retirement life.
What are the main triggers for people to start thinking about post-retirement life?
The most common trigger is "becoming conscious of their age" (78.2%), followed by "seeing the post-retirement life/care of parents or close relatives" (35.3%).
What is the most common reason for starting end-of-life planning?
Many who have started end-of-life planning cite "not wanting to bother family" as their reason. Preparation for sudden events and experience with parental care also play a role.