SENIOR NEWS LINE
By Matilda Charles

Working Past Age 60

“Women Still at Work: Professionals Over Sixty and On the Job,” by Elizabeth F. Fideler, explores why senior women are still working and what happens when we do.
Fideler gathered her research from both surveys and in-depth interviews, comparing generations, economic climates and preferences.

Why are senior women still working? We enjoy what we’re doing. We’re making contributions. We need the money or the health insurance that comes with the job. We’re trying to beef up our retirement nest egg. We get more out of being engaged on a daily basis with real challenges.

What happens when our friends retire and we don’t? We miss opportunities for socializing, unless we take matters in hand and organize time together when we are available. We sometimes have to keep repeating answers to the question about why we’re still working, and try to explain the sense of accomplishment we get from continuing to work. This can be wearing. Instead, when the friendships no longer fit, look for socializing opportunities in new areas where you don’t have to justify what you’re doing.

There is one bonus to continuing to work, despite the push to retire. Studies have shown that retiring early can shorten one’s life, especially if we’ve worked for years. Another study of 6,000 participants showed that we’ll have a 15 percent lower risk of death if we maintain a purpose in our life and keep working. Anxiety and depression can be a result of retiring when we really don’t want to.

If you’re considering retiring, take a look at this book before you do. Go online to Amazon.com and you’ll find it in paperback, hard copy and for Kindle.

(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.