According to the U.S. Surgeon General, empirical evidence
suggests there are three essential elements to successful aging:
Avoidance of disease and disability
Ongoing cognitive and physical functioning
Involvement in interpersonal relationships and productive
activities
Actually, the good news for working seniors is getting even
better. A recent study of more than 2,700 Americans suggests
that having a job or engaging in volunteer work may be as
effective as cardiopulmonary fitness activities in lowering the
risk of death. In the study, reported in the British Medical
Journal, researchers at the Harvard University School of Public
Health found that seniors who are socially active and productive
live longer than those who are not.
Why Seniors become entrepreneurs - or Senior~Preneurs
Robert Weiner, inventor of the Handee Soapsacks, out of personal
necessity, joined the ranks of American entrepreneurs and
inventors, designing the first prototype of what has become his
gift to seniors across the nation. A longstanding arthritis
sufferer, he created the HANDEE SOAPSACKS as a means to handle
and manipulate a bar of soap throughout his showering routine.
(http://www.seniorsapprove.com/handeesoapsacks )
Carol Bradley Bursack, a syndicated writer on elder care issues,
a motiviational speaker, and author, saw the need for a portable
caregiver's support group. Encouraged by caregivers she met
during her 20 years of caregiving for seven elders. At age 60,
Carol wrote Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal
Stories. (http://www.seniorsapprove.com/bursack.html)
Tom Begert-Clark launched 'Even as We Speak' as an alternative
to retiring using his accumulated knowledge and wisdom to
further contribute to society. He saw a need to bring usable
information utilizing humor and laughter, into the arenas of
communications, business and elder care fields. Using his
accumulated life skills and his ability to make questionable and
everyday stressful situations more palatable through humor, his
students and audiences realize that their professional and
personal lives can be more fulfilled, profitable and successful.
(http://www.seniorsapprove.com/evenaswespeak)
More seniors are remaining in the workforce well after
retirement age, some need the money, others want to try
something new, and still others are just bored with traditional
retirement and want to stay busy. Whatever the reason, the
number of seniors working past retirement is growing fast and
shows no sign of slowing down.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than
16 million Americans over age 55 who are either working or
looking for jobs, and older workers are getting new jobs at an
annual rate of 4.1 percent.
About the author:
Founder of
Senior Approved Services
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