Those who work for caregiver services in Chicago often have to keep the elders they care for company, too, and maybe one of the subjects that they can talk about is what grandma or grandpa used to do as a young, able person. It’s probably a very enjoyable topic to talk about since they can reminisce their glory days and share with the younger people the wisdom they’ve acquired over the years.
For Mental and Physical Health
However, some seniors are still able bodied and still want to continue working. One of the reasons they still want to keep working is because of financial needs, or they enjoy what they do and don’t know what to do with their time, or because they enjoy the mental stimulation it gives them.
It’s been proven that continuous mental stimulation can prevent or keep dementia or forgetfulness at bay, and maybe that’s why seniors who keep working still have sharp minds and why they still have the strength in them to keep on working.
One of the other reasons why elders choose to continue working is to keep physically fit. Studies have shown that elders who are working are more physically and mentally fit than those who are unemployed.
For Money and Stability
Going back to work because they want to is a common reason for the elderly, but there are also sadder reasons why they had to go back to work. Some elderly have said they had to go back to work because the pension wasn’t enough, or they still have a family to provide for despite their old age.
Forceful Retirement and Age Discrimination
Old age is often associated with illness such as heart disease, declining health and strength, and even diabetes, obesity, or cancer. It is the health problems of the aging population that make them stop working, while those who don’t have any vices or diseases, or even diseases that are properly looked after and kept at bay, are the ones who can keep working. Since they keep working, they take care of themselves and are healthier. It isn’t necessarily the job that is making them healthier.
It also seems that age discrimination is legal as there are still some policies in effect that force workers to retire when they reach a certain age. Other than this, some prefer not to hire seniors at all. It may be because these more seasoned and more experienced seniors are a threat to a younger, but not much younger, manager and the recruiter might have an unconscious bias and prefer younger candidates. Or that it’s still okay to look for a young, tall blonde because that’s visually more pleasing.
Elders should work when they feel like they’re healthy enough to work. If they think they can’t do any more office work, it’s okay to open up a shop or do business out of a hobby they’re passionate about. However, the law and companies should also give balanced attention to both younger and older workers since older workers still have a lot to offer in terms of their experience.
