Still Working at an Old Age

Unfortunately, in the USA a lot of retirees are going back to work because they can not survive in this economy. I lost my mom 7 years ago, she took early retirement then cancer was discovered and she only lived another 6 months. She would have to go back to work with the price of gas, food, and everything continuing to go up. It is so sad that you work hard all your life and you can't even enjoy retirement thanks to our government! I am working hard now so that hopefully, if my body holds out, I can enjoy a little bit of free time before I die! LOL

I think I will probably continue working. Retiring and then doing nothing would be incredibly boring. I think people can retire and work part-time. I would be so bored at home if I just sat around and did nothing!

There is nothing at all wrong with people working beyond the statutory retirement age so long as they are still capable of doing the job. I don't believe anyone should be forced to retire (as happened to me) when they are 65 so long as they are fit and able to perform the job satisfactorily. There are great benefits to working as long as you feel capable of doing so. It keeps the mind and body active and older people working alongside younger people allows training to be more effective and gives great continuity to the job. On the other hand, it is a great crime to society if people are financially unable to retire when they need to or want to do so. Good societies have always made provision for this, either unofficially, by custom or tradition, within the family unit or officially by providing insurance schemes whereby people can invest in their future and receive an income when they come to retire. In my country, 60 is not considered that old and many people are still working because they want to at 70 or even 80 (though they have, perhaps, changed their job and taken up a less stressful one when they reached the official retirement age).

I fit into this age group so I'm retired. However, if I needed to return to work in order to help raise the grandkids I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm still teachable, healthy and have a good appearance. My attitude is positive and I love working with the public. My theory is to keep the mind active. I do feel bad for older folks who must return to work because they are unable to provide a comfortable living for their family by simply retiring on social security. Sometimes the "system" is not enough. I do understand your concern.

I also feel bad for those people who have to work. There are alot of people in the place where I work that still need to work in order to pay for rent and food and other stuff. I am glad that my parents got to retire when they did because they now travel a lot and just get to relax in there older years. I guess he was good with money and new how to invest and save. I hope that they never have to go back to work.

The age has gone up that old people can retire in my home country. Yet there is much unemployment for all age groups. I think that a person of 67 years old would retire these days. My mom was able to work until she was 65 years old. She worked for two days a week as a reference librarian. My disabled son goes to a primary school and the head teacher will soon be retiring. He will soon be 60 years old. I asked what he was going to do. He explained he would do consultancy work because his wife was still working.

I know it's not (necessarily) true in this situation, but there are a LOT of "old" people who continue working because they want to. When I was at the RSPCA there was a volunteer there who was well into his 60s - he came in every week to do UNIX scripting because he enjoyed it. Personally, I fully expect to continue working until I'm at least 80. I know I'll be bored otherwise!

I don't feel bad for people working at an older age if it is something they want to do and they are physically up to the challenge. There are many older people who can much better than younger people and they take pride in feeling useful. Now if they HAVE to do it or they are sickly and still feel they need to work then I do feel bad, as most of them have probably already put in their time in the the workforce. It seems the person you describe feels they have to work for their grand kids and they probably feel honorable in doing that, but I do wonder what the parents are doing and why they can't or aren't working for their own kids.

I think if you're used to working your whole life, not working would be difficult and not having any money of your own is even worst and you need to depend on others for food and lodgings. When I'm old, I want to be independent and not be too reliant on my children for handouts. If they want to take care of me, I'll be happy but if they don't, I hope I can take care of myself.

I personally think its OK to work at older age as long they want it not because they had to. Many senior citizen can not life without do any thing, because they get used to work in their entire life and feel useless when can not making money. I think its a matter of choice,and how they see their self without any activity.

My grandparents were working in the US until they were 82! Yeah and they send all their money to their grandchildren, grandchildren's husbands and of course they're children. Exclude me and my siblings. I hated the fact that their children (except my parents) and their grandchildren (except us of course) still depended on them for their basic needs. I'm actually angered by the thought but really my grandparents are spoilers.

I think it is ok for someone to work at an old age provided he/she is not been forced to do so. There are so many old people who do not want to stay idle and prefer working not even necessarily for monetary gains but just to make their life more active.

I also feel bad though people who work in their retirement life.

Children are supposed to work hard for their parents as they did for them, this is my opinion but shouldn't his children be working for their children? Real sad that he has to work to help to support for the 3rd generation (His kid's kids :S???).

When my mom was still alive, she would tell me that her best friend who lives in the US was still working even if she is already blind in one eye. I was shocked of course and told mommy that her friend should stop working and just enjoy life. The reason why her friend was working was because of her grandchildren. Her friend apparently is working in the US so that she can send money to her grandchildren here in the Philippines. Apparently, the grandma is the one working even if she is already half blind. When I asked if the children were working, my mom answered no because they couldn't find work because they started families early and didn't finish college. I could only shake my head in dismay because it is so stupid for children to start families and hurl the responsibility to their parents. I see nothing wrong with grandparents helping their children and grandchildren when they are in a tight spot. But to assume the financial responsibility that the parent should be doing is a definite no-no for me. I hate seeing old people working and then their children aren't because they know that the grandparents can provide for their children.

Well,for people that age,it is expected that they should have retired but while they're still strong,they still work as it is not nice being idle.In a third world country like mine,even senior citizens are still working.More & more people are struggling to get a job that they'd take ANY job even if it means being underpaid,exploited,& their relationships destroyed.

My father is 65 and he is still working. He doesn't plan on retiring in the near future, and I still that there are two reasons why he is still working. First of all he loves his job, and he would miss it a lot if he gave it up. The second reason is the money. Him and my mother would be able to survive without his salary, but they would not be able to keep the house where they live now. They will have to find something smaller and cheaper one day when he stops working. I know my parents would like to keep the house as long as the can, but I don't think that money is the main reason why he is still working. The most important thing is way that he feels about his work, because his work is a huge part of his life and he really loves the job that he has chosen.

It's really saddening to know that some people who are near or past retirement age still working just to support their relatives. This is really different from those who work for their own benefit. I mean, a lot of old people work because they're either bored, they want to be financially dependent on their kids or any other personal reason they might have. My dad is 70 and he still works because he's just not used to not working. But in the case of this cab driver, it's really heart-breaking. I just hope that he's doing this because his kids are incapacitated and can't work so it's up to him to support his grandchildren.

People in that age is not that old to continue working but I prefer them to have it part-time not as a full-time worker anymore. There are some who willing to stop working when they are 60 but I am sure they are lots of them who would love to have a job in that age as for them living without a job would be meaningless as they are used to it and they will feel bored if they just at home without doing anything. they have choice, I feel the way you feel towards the old man but I am sure he is happy doing it for his grandchildren.(^^)

Many people work past their 60s. They work after retirement. Retirement is supposed to be a time when people can take it easy, but it's not enough to live on. My dad worked until he was 77 years old. My mom worked until age 63 and then she retired and didn't work because of illness. Dad worked as a security guard. He worked 2 jobs my whole growing up life. There was nothing lazy about my father. He did enjoy working though.. he wouldn't have wanted to just sit home and twiddle his thumbs. He wouldn't have had enough money with just his retirement and social security. Dad built a house when he was in his 70s also... he worked, he slept awhile and then he worked on the house. He did it all except the roof. He had to hire that done.