Reason 2: Loneliness
It may not have run through most of our minds, but there is a small chunk of seniors that end up choosing to stay in the workforce due to loneliness. Be it that they no longer have family around or that they live too far from any loved ones (friends or family), there are a lot of seniors who find the camaraderie and acquaintances from their workplace irreplaceable.
It gives them a sense of belonging and social interaction that retirement may rob them of. And while it may sound weird now, it does put things into perspective. The reason makes a lot of sense when studies have shown that a lot of people between the ages of 50 and 80 suffer from chronic loneliness, which has been directly linked to older adults’ memories and physical and mental health!
Not to mention life expectancy! Just as stress can kill, so does loneliness, and it seems like more and more seniors have to face this problem. which makes staying in the workforce a very understandable choice when you put it into perspective.
I will be 69 in December and I still work full time including an additional 5 hours on Sunday for overtime. I do plan on retiring in December 2023 or February 2024. The reason that I haven’t retired yet is because I want to wait until I am 70 years old to be able to get the full benefit maximum amount from social security. I am eligible for full pensions from my company as I have been there for 31 years. Right now I still enjoy working and when I retire I really would like to travel but I need to find a travel companion to go with me.