Seniors age 85 and Older are Going Back to Work

Back to Work on the Farm after Age 85

Seniors age 85 and older are going back to the work force. Reasons given are rising health costs and a shrinking income. Also, more and more seniors are filing for bankruptcy because of reduced incomes, a decline in pensions and soaring health costs.

As Long as you Have your Health you can Go Back to Work

According to the AARP, census records in the Washington Post list 255,000 seniors age 85 or older that worked during 2017. They worked as farmers, ranchers, crossing guards, accountants, bookkeepers, musicians, truck drivers and demonstrators of products at big-box stores. The trucking industry is experiencing a shortage of drivers, so age is no barrier to getting hired as a trucker. In much of the work force, however, the trend is still to hire younger people. The majority of seniors found work in ranching and farming, as that is what they did all of their lives. This shows that physical activity can help to maintain health and prolong life.

Americans over Age 55 are also Working or Looking for Work at the Highest Rates ever Recorded

According to the AARP, Americans over the age of 55 are either working or looking for work at the highest rates ever recorded. In fact, the AARP estimates that over 3,000,000 Americans age 50 and older are looking for work.The AARP has online resources to help seniors get back in the work force.

Advantages for Hiring People over Age 50

There are a lot of advantages for hiring seniors over age 50. They bring with them years of knowledge and experience, are generally hard workers, do not have the responsibility of caring for infants and young children and usually remain longer on the job than younger people.

Many Baby Boomers over Age 65 Telecommute

The AARP further states in another article, June 26, 2018, that baby boomers over the age of 65 are 1.7 times more likely to be telecommuters. In fact, half of telecommuters were found to be over age 45. Telecommuters are people who work at home on-line on their computers for companies around the United States and sometimes abroad. The majority found work mainly in the New England and the mid-Atlantic areas. Seniors who telecommute are usually educated with 53% having a college degree. Many of them work in the military, computer and math fields.

Scams that Target Seniors Looking for Work-at-Home

The AARP also warns about scams that target seniors looking for work-at-home jobs. Beware of promises of big easy money, when in fact you or your loved one can get into serious debts. If you think that you or your loved one have been a victim to a work-at-home scam then you can  file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357), or with your state’s attorney general.

Caregivers for Aging Parents and Ailing Spouses

Many people over the age of 50 are also working as voluntary caregivers for aging parents or ailing spouses. Those that are caring for parents or spouses with Alzheimer’s and dementia have little time to go out to work, as caring for someone with dementia is a 24/7 job. This also puts a lot of financial and emotional stress on families. Their medical expenses are greater and yet they cannot find time to work to help pay for all the extra costs involved in caring for someone with dementia. Caregivers who need to put their loved ones in long-term care skilled nursing facilities may have the time to go back to work.

If your Loved one Needs Long-term Care

The Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation in scenic Galloway Township, New Jersey is a beautiful 5-star facility surrounded by eight acres of woods and landscaped gardens. They offer skilled nursing care at its best and have a high ratio of staff per resident so that your loved one will be in the best of hands. For people suffering from dementia, they have a state-of-the-art memory impaired care unit designed to fit the needs of people with dementia. See our blog post from May 29, 2018 about impaired memory care at Royal Suites.

Conclusion

For seniors in good health, and with heavy medical and other expenses, leaving retirement and going back to work is an option