Jobs for Older People

December 12, 2009 5:16 AM

What are Good Jobs for Older People?

Does anyone have thoughts on the best types of jobs for an older person around 63?

A person I know has tried truck driving, taxi driving and its really actually difficult due to health conditions.

The other issue is that for other jobs like office jobs, there really is some ageism out there and people don't want to hire older people for a number of reasons, including health care costs.

What can my friend do that is not so strenuous yet can provide a reasonable income.

They are willing to go and get a certificate or training for something.

posted by simpleton to Work & Money (17 answers total)

I hear you about ageism in the office place-I'm dealing with that crap right now where I work.

Maybe become a pharmacy technician? Whatever he does, tell him not to go into a call center--those places are hellish for stress.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:28 AM on December 12, 2009

Find small family-owned businesses that want to hire reliable people. The florist I work for hires older folks for delivery driving-again, for the reliability factor.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 6:36 AM on December 12, 2009

I'm 67, had to retire 2 years ago because I was in a government job with mandatory retirement age, have a miserable pension because I didn't always work regular jobs with pension contributions, so am in a similar position. I agree that there's a lot of ageism out there, at least here in Europe. Looked at truck driving and bus driving, but I think they were laughing at me behind my back because of my age.

I've found I can top up my pension to a reasonably acceptable level with a lot of internet-based work from home: translations, copy editing, temporary website management while somebody is on maternity leave or holiday, etc. Need to pound the beat on old contacts and spread the word, but there's a steady trickle. Investment only a flat-rate broadband connection (20 Euros a month). Major advantage: do it in my own time, from home, no commuting (and related expenses). Major disadvantage: no security, sedentary work which makes going for walks mandatory, whatever the weather!

It wouldn't make a full-time job, but maybe combined with something else it could make up an 80% job to 100%?

And I agree with both comments above, posted while I was still writing this.

Good luck to your friend - I hope he finds something acceptable.
posted by aqsakal at 6:38 AM on December 12, 2009

How about a school aide? Many elementary schools have "grandmothers" and "grandfathers" (that's what we called them in my elem. school) that come in and help with the children or participate in activities etc. Or perhaps a school bus driver?
posted by kthxbi at 7:06 AM on December 12, 2009

I am very sorry to hear about people's ageism experiences.

I'm still fairly young (mid 30's) but I totally understand how someone might feel and have empathy for such situations.

I think its partially a western world issue. Older people are more respected in other cultures overall I think.

Its actually not for a friend, but for my dad.

It bothers me a lot that he is going through this and doing late shifts with a taxi and struggling to find a more reasonable job. His original profession is just too stressful as he had a heart attack a while back.

I already gave a lot of money to him to pay off his debts and know I probably won't see a penny.

There has to be some nice government job or something that is stable and not too stressful.

I thought about even paper delivery because you also get the exercise but there may not be much money in that.
posted by simpleton at 7:08 AM on December 12, 2009

Thanks for the bus driver tip but to be honest I just don't want my dad to drive anything anymore. Driving is stressful for him overall and with a bunch of kids, even more so.

The elementary school thing sounds great but to be honest it doesn't fit my dad's personality I think.

There has to be something. I will try and look in the local newpaper myself.

The internet stuff is good too if I can find legitimate freelance work.
posted by simpleton at 7:15 AM on December 12, 2009

toll booth operator? my parents are older and they have a friend who does this. It is sedentary, but it's usually a government job, so there are good benefits. I agree with what St. Alia says about looking at family owned businesses. My father is self employed, and he hires older men and women to be his secretaries. They are reliable and good with the clients. (Although, I guess, this is also another form of ageism in the other direction).
posted by bluefly at 7:16 AM on December 12, 2009

I am 57 and have also experienced the toughness of finding age appropriate work. As others above have said, there does appear to be ageism in the workplace.

When I was recovering from shoulder surgery a few years ago, I worked about nine months on a golf course as a starter/ranger/cart wrangler. The pay was minimum wage, but I also got unlimited free golf. It was great to be outdoors and meet new people.
posted by netbros at 7:38 AM on December 12, 2009

Does your dad have "desk job" type skills he could put to use? If so, he might try temp work. If he knows programs such as Word and Excel, and can "work and play well with others," a temp agency can put him to work. And since benefits for temp workers aren't an issue, qualities that older workers traditionally are stronger on - punctuality, work appropriateness* and so on - will be an asset to him.

*Seriously, the last temp agency I worked for had to tell workers, in writing, things like "Don't wear pajamas and bedroom slippers to work" and "Don't spit on the floor." The caliber of temp workers can be such that being dressed, punctual, and polite puts a worker above the herd.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:40 AM on December 12, 2009

Grocery stores seem to hire a lot of older people. Also, have you checked to see if there are any agencies in your area that assist older people - like a Council on Aging or something?

I'm an older person (about to turn 67) who works a few hours a week from home for a former employer (newspaper business) who had cut so many positions they needed some cheap help to get the donkey work done.
posted by lazydog at 7:48 AM on December 12, 2009

I've specifically noticed that our local Panera has hired older people (including a former teacher of mine), so if your dad is okay with that sort of thing, that's a start.
posted by Madamina at 8:04 AM on December 12, 2009

There are a few programs that specialize in helping older Americans find work, including Experience Works (private nonprofit) and the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program .

The best starting point, though, is probably your local Office for the Aging.
posted by susanvance at 9:27 AM on December 12, 2009

There's a certain hardware store in the UK that made a big deal about their older workforce. One of my pet hates is not finding anyone with any expertise in stores these days. Advice about cars or bikes or DIY given by youngsters that don't drive or ride or do any DIY is not going to be good. These older, more experienced, people knew their stuff, and people trusted them to give good advice. Maybe there's somewhere like that near you?
posted by jonesor at 12:34 PM on December 12, 2009

If he's comfortable with using a computer perhaps tax preparation places? I worked for one and a lot of the employees were retirees who just wanted to do something low-stress for some spare cash.
It's only seasonal, but it is something.
Also, my mom has mentioned that she plans to do medical transcription to supplement her income when she retires. Again, if he is comfortable typing and using a computer that may be something to look into.
posted by Kellydamnit at 1:08 PM on December 12, 2009

My aunt (in her late 60s, I think) works part-time at the visitors' bureau in her city -- she hands out maps, helps with contacting hotels, etc. Is there something like that where your dad lives?

Alternatively, what about places like local community centers (particularly senior centers), libraries, YMCAs, etc. -- maybe they'd have openings for desk clerks or similar jobs?

Good luck.
posted by scody at 1:24 PM on December 12, 2009

Retail stores hire older people because they can work during the day, while all the student workers can only work evenings and weekends. If your dad has some specific knowledge, a hardware store or an autoparts store or a plumbing store would be a good place to try. But otherwise places like Target/Walmart/ToysRUs - any of the big-box stores might be ok.

And if he doesn't have specific knowledge - you said he might be able to get it. Could he take some classes then be a plumber, mechanic, airconditioning repairman, general handyman? Court reporter? Paralegal?

Maybe go find one of those personality quizzes to see what he might be good at, then aim for that. Look for Meyers-Briggs free online quiz.
posted by CathyG at 8:59 PM on December 13, 2009

There has to be some nice government job or something that is stable and not too stressful.

I am not trying to be snarky, but I hope your dad doesn't share this attitude because it will prevent him from getting a job. Right now EVERYONE wants a stress-free, stable, well-paying job that has little actual work (code for government job=paid to sit around and do nothing - pretty offensive to us government workers that have endured years of low pay and crappy jobs to earn enough seniority).

Instead of looking for the job that your dad can fit into you should be looking at what skills he will bring to a job and look for positions that are a good match. Why would an employer hire him instead of someone else? Focus on what he can bring to a job - not what a job can do for him. I helped my retired father in a similar position and I am acting on my plans now to endure my mother can transition into her next job smoothly in a few years. Good luck.
posted by saucysault at 12:37 PM on December 14, 2009