Seniors over Age 85 are Returning to the Work Force

Seniors Return to Work on Farms & Ranches

Work Begins at 85!

Due to rising health costs and declining income, more and more seniors over the age of 85 are entering the work force. At the same time more and more seniors are also filing for bankruptcy. According to a research report on the the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, the rate of seniors filing for consumer bankruptcy has risen almost 204% between 1991 and 2016, mainly because of reduced incomes, a decline in pensions and rising health costs.

Medical Costs are a Reason for Returning to the Workforce

As long as one still has their health, they can go out to work and this is just what one 87-year-old man is planning to do to help pay for the medical costs of his beloved wife. According to a post in MSN News October 3, 2018, even though his wife, Jelaine is not happy with her husband having to return to work at the age of 87, her husband Robert sees no other way to cope with mounting medical bills. They already have sold off many of their possessions like a mobile trailer to help pay for medical costs. His wife has had a bout with breast cancer, suffers from asthma and has walking problems. For years Robert worked helping people with financial planning until he retired. Now he has enrolled in a course in commercial driving, which will prepare him for working as a truck driver.

Seniors over Age 85 are Working

Robert is not alone. According to the AARP, census records in the Washington Post list 255,000 seniors age 85 or older that worked over the past year. They worked as farmers, ranchers, crossing guards, bookkeepers, musicians, accountants, demonstrators of products at big-box stores and as truckers. Since the trucking industry is suffering from a shortage of drivers, there is no barrier to hiring seniors, although, generally, the trend in the workforce is to hire younger people. However, the majority of seniors over the age of 85 find work in ranching and farming, as that is what they were doing most of their lives and this shows that physical activity prolongs health and life.

Americans over Age 55 are Working or Looking for Work

In general, the AARP reports that Americans over the age of 55 are either working or looking for work at the highest rates ever recorded and the AARP has online resources to help them. The AARP estimates that over three million Americans ages 50+ are looking for work.

Advantages to Hiring People over Age 50

There are a lot of benefits to hiring those 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 boomer seniors 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 online for companies around the United States and sometimes abroad. They are usually educated with 53% having a college degree. Many of them work in the military, computer and math fields. The majority found work mainly in the New England and the mid Atlantic areas.

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 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.

Respite Care at the Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Syracuse, New York

If you are a caregiver and are in need of a break, a good option for you is respite care whereby you can place your loved one for a short time in a skilled nursing rehab like the Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Syracuse, New York. You can go away on a vacation while knowing that your loved one will be safe and properly cared for. Also, your loved one will be able to participate in all the great recreational activities at Van Duyn.

Conclusion

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