Janine Vanderberg is the director of a Colorado-based initiative called Changing the Narrative, a campaign against age discrimination, something she says has increased during the pandemic.

"They were laid off. They were pushed out. They had their hours reduced. They had their salary reduced. I’ve heard hundreds of stories of people who not only want to work, but need to work basically for survival and are not able to," she said

According to a recent study by the New School Retirement Equity Lab, the pandemic forced an additional 1.7 million Americans into retirement than expected, saying that due to health risks and disproportionate job loss, more older workers were pushed into early retirement.

"One of the things that we know this is true in Colorado and across the country is that age discrimination isn't treated as seriously as other forms of discrimination," said Vanderberg.

Vanderberg says age discrimination is hard to prove but can be countered with proactive steps like getting rid of graduation dates on applications and putting money into re-training programs.

"If we're going to have successful workplaces where younger people and older people work together in any kind of workplace and gain the benefits of each other's perspective and insights and knowledge, why don't we train them together as well?" she asked.

But what about preparing for that unexpected early retirement? Financial experts say the earlier you prepare, the better.

"We've seen the turning point of most people not having large pensions and retirement, that, that notion of one day it all stops becomes a bit of an exercise and, and, and scares folks," said Scott Sparks, founder and CEO of Sparks Financial affiliated with Northwest Mutual.

He says the sooner you can establish a budget and figure out ways to put money away that can supplement your income, the more financial independence you will gain.

"If we can help our clients compartmentalize the time frames of when they're going to need and spend money, they become less emotional about their money. And we have a plan so that when we have market events, we can enter that in an opportunity mindset versus a scarce, fearful mindset that tends to cause people to panic," he said.

Whether it's planning years ahead or reaching out for help in the moment, there are avenues of help available if you find yourself in sudden retirement.

Meanwhile, Vanderberg hopes more employers realize the benefits of having a more diverse age range in the workplace.

"We can all sort of stop and think become aware of ageism. I like the concept of taking really small steps in our own lives to do something right," she said.

CINCINNATI —

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the harsh reality of isolation became front and center for seniors, especially in nursing homes.

As care facilities search for new ways to help residents adapt to limited interaction with other residents and visitors, a new study is poised to provide a possible solution.

A global study currently underway through Stanford University hopes to provide qualitative insight between virtual reality and the aging population. The study promises to be the largest study of its kind in history.

The study is made possible through the partnerships with MyndVR and AT&T.

Among the approximate 50 global partners involved in the study is Maple Knoll Village in Springdale.

MyndVR sells virtual reality headset kits with an accompanying tablet. MyndVR says its starter price is $6,000 a year per senior community with a two-year contract. This includes three headsets and access to its VR content library.

Participants can slip on a headset and choose different virtual experiences like concerts, international and space travel and a Broadway performance.

Maple Knoll says it was already an existing MyndVR customers before the study began. Upon request, they purchased more devices to have a total of seven kits.

The retirement community says the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased realities of isolation spurred its decision to participate in the study.

"I think COVID really strengthened the need for that," Maple Knoll Village Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Megan Ulrich said. "So many people were combating, you know, depression, isolation, loneliness. And if we can give them an opportunity to experience new education, travel somewhere safely without ever leaving their home, this is something that I think it's going to be a huge benefit to our seniors."

Ulrich says to not discredit seniors when it comes to VR, especially considering some have lived through the development of televisions, cellphones, computers, tablets and now virtual realities.

One Maple Knoll resident participating in the trial and who helped financially back the opportunity to bring VR to Maple Knoll is Barb Desalvo.

Desalvo, 79, strapped on the headset and narrated her virtual experience of being on stage during the opening number of Disney's "The Lion King" stage production.

“I think it’s just a hoot to do this," Desalvo said about her VR experience. "But, besides that, I think there are a lot of people that are not as active and can’t get out as easily or are isolated because of family or whatever. This just takes you to another world altogether. And that’s so refreshing and comforting, I think.”

MyndVR says it is also aware that the virtual reality headsets can potentially do more than provide an entertaining escape.

"What we do envision virtual reality, and especially the product that we're building at MyndVR, is to help with some of those side effects that do come along with dementia, that do come along with Parkinson's, that might come along with ocular degeneration," MyndVR CEO Chris Brickler said. "So we're looking at ways that VR can help make people's lives better."

Brickler says the global study is expected to talk about four to six months to complete with initiation results expected in the first 90 days.