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News April 2012

Aid for Age

Seniors Still at Work

By Tait Trussell

As of December, 1.31 million seniors 75 and older were working. That’s 25 percent more than in 2005. Not all elderly are working just to stay afloat. Many continue to work because it makes them feel worthwhile; or they have worked so long, it just seems the natural thing to do.

In some ways, 78-year-old Rose Marie Meece is quite lucky. She still has a job.

As a tour guide in Honolulu, three years ago she had figured she could retire. But the $300,000 she had tucked away to last her the rest of her life took a big hit in the economic downturn, according to a Wall Street Journal story.

So, Mrs. Meece stayed on the job. With Social Security and her late husband’s pension, together with what’s left of her savings, she is getting by.

Mrs. Meece, however, is like hundreds of thousands of older people who are still working or searching anxiously for jobs. They either lost money in the recession or never thought they would need so much for so long, as most of our lives stretch on and on.

The Journal reports that the jobless rate for Americans 75 and older is still relatively low compared with other age groups. But it has doubled what it was five years ago.

The unemployment rate was 5.6 last year compared with 2.5 in 2006. These numbers seem tiny compared with the unemployment rate nationally and in many states. But if you aren’t working and need the income, it hurts just as much.

As of December, 1.31 million seniors 75 and older were working. That’s 25 percent more than in 2005. Not all elderly are working just to stay afloat. One in four people age 75 or more has a household income of $100,000 or more, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many continue to work because it makes them feel worthwhile; or they have worked so long, it just seems the natural
thing to do.

I’m in that boat. I have been writing for so long, it has become a habit I can’t break, even at age 86 and with a tremor that makes it hard to hit the right computer keys.

The Wall Street Journal story also told of a New York advertising executive, Ralph Casado, 76. He reportedly drained his $180,000 retirement account several years ago on a series of expensive operations. As we know, Medicare doesn’t cover everything.

Mr. Casado had to close down his small ad agency in 2002. He now makes $18,000 a year teaching as an adjunct professor. Social Security also pays him a like amount. He gets by despite the cost of alimony payments and living expenses.

He was quoted as saying. “I worry about losing my apartment or not having enough medical coverage. These are fears that keep me motivated and working.”

As you might suspect most of the fairly high earners are doctors or business owners who just like what they’re doing.

But for some returning workers or continuing workers, life is no bowl of cherries. Walter Thompson, 79, is a cook for a meals-on-wheels program in New Jersey. His work day starts at 7 a.m. He uses a walker to ease the arthritis pain and steadies himself on the kitchen counter during his five-hour work shift.

He says his younger brothers think he’s nuts to keep working, especially after his bout with prostate cancer. But he says he has no plans to quit.

There’s a story I’ve heard about a working senior named Charley. He’s retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart. Charley had a hard time getting to work on time. It seemed that nearly every day he was five to 10 minutes late.

But he was good at his job, clean-shaven and tidy, pleasant to customers, and demonstrated the store’s “older person friendly” policies.

One day, so the story goes, the boss called Charley into his office for a little chat.

“Charley,” said the boss, “I have to tell you. I like your work ethic. You do a bang-up job when you finally get here. But your being late so often is something of a problem.”

“Yes, I know. I’m working on it,” Charley replied.

“Well, good,” said the boss. “You have the potential to be a team player.”

“Yes, sir, I understand your concern. I’ll try to make it on time.”

A bit puzzled, the manager continued, “I know you retired from the armed forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up late?

The elderly Charley looked down at the floor a moment and then chuckled and said with a smile: “They usually saluted and said: “Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir.”

 

Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.

Meet Tait