Retirement Resources & Organizations

Preparing for Retirement

Below are some resources for faculty and staff who are close to retiring, i.e., three months to three years.

• Maryland Pension System Pre-Retirement Checklist (PDF)
• Maryland State Pre-Retirement Planning Seminars
• Maryland State Retirement and Pension System Website
  Register for a "mySRPS Login" and have access to much valuable information including projected pension payout.
• Optional Retirement Program (OPR) Pre-Retirement Checklist (PDF)
• UC Berkeley Retirement Center - Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop (YouTube video)
• Reimagining Retirement: Exploring Your Life Plan Webinars
  Watch the three-part seminar geared toward faculty and staff in higher education who are contemplating retirement or who are already retired.

Additional Retirement Websites of Interest

• Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE)
  • Retirement Trends and Resources
    • Online Conversations and Social Isolation
    • Music - Connection and Health Benefits
    • "Ageless Aging - Woman's Guide"
    • Intimacy and Sexuality in Older Adults
    • Redesigning Retirement
• Emory University Emeritus College
• University of California Berkeley Retirement Center

Osher

Osher Life Long Learning at Towson offers adults, age 50 and older, opportunities for continued learning, along with programs and activities for social and cultural enrichment in a congenial and supportive environment. TURA members can participate as instructors or students and many do both. TURA members also receive a special membership discount. See the TURA benefits page for details.

Senior Box Office

If you enjoy music, theater, historical sites, museums, dance, wineries and breweries, and you don’t mind saving a bundle of money, you need to join Senior Box Office (SBO).  SBO is a volunteer program supported in part by the Baltimore County Department on Aging that is open to all Maryland seniors 55 years or older.  For the $25 cost of year’s household membership, you can request vouchers to attend events that can be for free, BOGO, or at a deeply discounted cost.  The most recent quarterly catalog of events listed over 100 events at local venues.  The year runs Oct-Sept, but it isn’t too late to join now for 2025-2026.  Check it out at Senior Box Office. Unfortunately, you cannot see the menu of events unless you join but you will not be disappointed.

GBCA

The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance is a regional, organization that serves local artists and cultural organizations by promoting the cultural sector in Baltimore and its five surrounding counties to those who have signed up for its weekly newsletter. You can sign up for their newsletter. The newsletter provides links for more information as well as discounted or free tickets.

Silver Sneakers

Silver Sneakers is a program for some Medicare eligible adults that provides for membership at local gyms, but even if you are not eligible for the gym membership, Silver Sneakers offers hundreds if not thousands of on-line workout videos for people like us. Some workouts are offered on-line live.