Working past 67

I’m 71 and have just given up work because my mother is coming to live with us and she will occupy the area I work from.
I loved my work and will miss it but needs must. It depends what you do doesn’t it?.
She hasn’t arrived yet because we have a bit of rearranging to do and I’m a bit bored to be honest. I’d rather work than clean!

I have two part-time jobs with the same company - technically 20 hours a week but sometimes need to do overtime for the admin part. Doing a cooking shift tomorrow too as our usual cook is on holiday. I used often to stand in for her but I’m going to cut that down drastically (basically just emergency cover) as I need time for the garden too.

I have scoliosis and arthritis as well but on the whole the painkillers I’ve been taking for many many years do their job. I’m 69 and intend to carry on with my jobs for as long as I can. It is partly therapy after the death of my eldest daughter. It does help distract me from the unending sadness. It’s a good team I work in which I’m sure helps.

Housework other than essentials…. meh. Plus I’m getting MrB to help with that.

Baggs

I have two part-time jobs with the same company - technically 20 hours a week but sometimes need to do overtime for the admin part. Doing a cooking shift tomorrow too as our usual cook is on holiday. I used often to stand in for her but I’m going to cut that down drastically (basically just emergency cover) as I need time for the garden too.

I have scoliosis and arthritis as well but on the whole the painkillers I’ve been taking for many many years do their job. I’m 69 and intend to carry on with my jobs for as long as I can. It is partly therapy after the death of my eldest daughter. It does help distract me from the unending sadness. It’s a good team I work in which I’m sure helps.

Housework other than essentials…. meh. Plus I’m getting MrB to help with that.

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. I can understand going out to work helps. When my first husband died in 2007 I returned to work 2 weeks later, being with jolly 2 year olds certainly helped

I worked until I was 70. I miss my younger colleagues who kept me young. I am lucky as I have good health and I am still very active. I took voluntary redundancy but often regret it.

I’m 70, still work 20 hours a week. Supplements my pension, plus it’s mostly younger people I work with and I enjoy the company. I’m still pretty healthy and I’ll keep going until it gets too much.

I worked full time in finance until I was 74. Loved it until a new head of department was appointed. It was wonderful to be able to walk away immediately and, contrary to all my preconceived notions, I'm loving this retirement of eleven years now. Just great.......

I left my original profession years ago and retrained to do something that is not so physically taxing in anticipation of knowing I’d have to work after retirement age. I’m physically fit touch wood but with age my eyes have deteriorated a lot even with glasses. People can look after their health but there are some things that naturally deteriorate with age. I hope I can hang on another few years. I do like the company and sense of routine and belonging that I get from work though.

I’m 70 and work part time in a shop. It’s an upmarket hiking and travelling clothing shop and I think I’m probably the oldest employee in the company. I do 2 or 3 days a week. My commute is 3 minutes walk away. I probably don’t need to work financially but I wouldn’t give it up until I really have to. My colleagues are lovely, I get to chat about travelling and hiking all day with customers and it’s part of my social life. The minimum wages pay for my holidays and I feel more part of the town community. I’d rather be doing this than festering around my house whilst my younger partner still works 3 days a week. Long may it continue.

I definitely think work can keep you young. I was forced to stop due to redundancy and then started to feel old. Now, mid 70s, I would not be capable of working as I have slowed up a lot and don’t have the energy. Keep going while you can is what I’d say to anyone.

Personally, I think working beyond 67 depends on so many factors.

Saying things like “Oh, I carried on until I was over 70”, isn’t really very helpful - it really depends upon your personal circumstances - physical, emotional and financial.

If you are physically well, working in a role you enjoy that isn’t causing you any stress beyond the ‘normal’ work stresses, then continue for as long as you feel able (not for as long as others think you should).

However, for many people, working beyond the usual retirement age is no easy task, and, quite frankly, not often possible. As some say, despite what our minds might tell us, our physical self tells us otherwise - as we age, we tend to slow down, our energy levels aren’t what they were, our reactions become slower, our bones ache, we tire, we become susceptible to age related ailments. Sometimes, we have to accept that our role as paid employees has to come an end as we can no longer physically do the job.

Yes, keep going if you can, but that is definitely not always possible.

I agree Ziplok. I expected to continue working part time beyond SP age- but at 67 my body had other ideas! It wasn’t just my failing vision and hearing (essential to my role) and physical health - I also felt I wasn’t learning new tricks fast enough. Time to call it a day! Circumstances (husbands ill health and caring role) also dictated a need to accept full retirement.

Since my son was born in 1989 I stopped working for other people and set up my own companies. It meant freedom. Now I’m 73, I sell stuff on eBay. I have to admit that it took me ages to get the hang of it and it takes time and patience which I have loads of. My friends and family keep asking how to do it. I had no idea whatsoever but just got stuck in as I’m good with technology so just dived in. I do admit it needs a lot of patience, taking photos, measuring garments etc but well worth perseverance. When I have sold 40 years of things acquired, I hope to buy things to sell. Give it a go. I made a sale today. Pays for holidays.

It all depends on the work you do. I quite agree that many people whose work requires physical effort will find it difficult to work to, let alone, after retirement age.

I think in the future pension age may have to become more flexible. But my DH, a chartered engineer, kept working until he was 80, and only stopped then because his main client ran into financial difficulties. In his 60s, into his early 70s, he was still flying round the world and standing on cold windy quaysides, but as his 70s progressed, he took on fewer jobs, and fewer that required travelling, until, since COVID he has worked entirely from home, checking plans, advising in online meetings.

I think in the future flexibility is going to be the order of the day

My father has just retired last month, although he was on sabbatical for six months prior. He will turn 67 next month.

Dad was most recently employed as a university professor, teaching veterinary medicine and doing research. (For the record, we are in Canada.) He also was, and still is, the co-editor-in-chief of the Canadian Veterinary Medicine journal. Until he retired, he worked 6.5 days a week, taking Sunday mornings off.

He still does his journal work, but that takes him about one day a week.

I am approaching seventy, and then I plan to drop back to a three day week
Luckily I have been able to adapt my role, because to be honest, I struggle with technology advances, I have learned what I need to know, but I’m definitely not wanting to try and advance any further. It’s a family business, and I am more than happy to step back and take on more basic jobs.
Wouldn’t want to give up completely, would miss the company.

I could not have continued working because of health problems, but I do lots of unpaid design work on my computer for local organisations.

My sister-in-law is 80 this month and still works cleaning for a couple of hours five days a week in a GP surgery, she gets up early in the morning to do it. She says she enjoys it.

If you are financially comfortable, why not do voluntary work ?

Age is irrelevant at this point, it’s how you are managing and how you’re going to get on with life going forward.
As a migraine sufferer I feel for you, as when it strikes it not only causes pain but for me it’s the all encompassing depression and misery that surrounds for the duration.
And really do feel for those who are trying to manage on state pension alone.

I am 72 still working 18 hours a week in a high dementia care home
I really like my job and it does help supplement my pension because all I get is the old state pension no private pension at all..

68 today left work exactly 2 years ago on my 66th birthday. I have/had osteo arthritis, the job was pressurised and it was time to leave.

Ziplok

Personally, I think working beyond 67 depends on so many factors.

Saying things like “Oh, I carried on until I was over 70”, isn’t really very helpful - it really depends upon your personal circumstances - physical, emotional and financial.

If you are physically well, working in a role you enjoy that isn’t causing you any stress beyond the ‘normal’ work stresses, then continue for as long as you feel able (not for as long as others think you should).

However, for many people, working beyond the usual retirement age is no easy task, and, quite frankly, not often possible. As some say, despite what our minds might tell us, our physical self tells us otherwise - as we age, we tend to slow down, our energy levels aren’t what they were, our reactions become slower, our bones ache, we tire, we become susceptible to age related ailments. Sometimes, we have to accept that our role as paid employees has to come an end as we can no longer physically do the job.

Yes, keep going if you can, but that is definitely not always possible.

Thank you Ziplok

I was beginning to feel a bit of a whimp lol. I've struggled with health problems for over 20 years. I'm fed up of taking ridiculous amounts of pain relief (which tbh don't really help and have now left me with stomach problems and more medication), I've paid for private physio and chiropractors over the years, I exercise, watch my weight, follow all the sensible medical advice. I've tried alternative therapies and still do BUT my body is (whoops nearly used naughty word) worn out.

In recent months I've struggled to carry Henry hoover upstairs, on my last day (last Friday) the bones in my hands and feet hurt so much I could have cried.

So congratulations to all those still working past 65+ but sadly some of us, no matter how hard we try just can't do it

M0nica

It all depends on the work you do. I quite agree that many people whose work requires physical effort will find it difficult to work to, let alone, after retirement age.

I think in the future pension age may have to become more flexible. But my DH, a chartered engineer, kept working until he was 80, and only stopped then because his main client ran into financial difficulties. In his 60s, into his early 70s, he was still flying round the world and standing on cold windy quaysides, but as his 70s progressed, he took on fewer jobs, and fewer that required travelling, until, since COVID he has worked entirely from home, checking plans, advising in online meetings.

I think in the future flexibility is going to be the order of the day

Agree

crazyH

If you are financially comfortable, why not do voluntary work ?

Thank you, I'm thinking maybe in the Autumn/Winter I may volunteer at local children's hospital