By Sharon Wagner

After you’ve spent much of your life working and saving for retirement, the last thing you may want in your golden years is to re-enter the workforce. However, a recent survey on retirement showed that approximately 19 percent of retired respondents were already working part-time—and about 27 percent of pre-retirees planned on working at least part-time once they did retire.

Whether for financial or lifestyle reasons, there are many reasons to work after you retire—especially if your retirement savings are lacking, you need medical coverage and you’re too young to qualify for Medicare, or you’re looking to keep your mind engaged by exploring a new line of work. Plus, plenty of flexible job opportunities are available so you won’t miss out on the best of your senior years. To explore some of the best career opportunities for retired seniors, read these tips from the California Council on Gerontology & Geriatrics.

Teach Others

If you’re an expert in a certain area, have a teaching background, and/or you enjoy helping others, becoming an academic tutor or teacher could be the perfect post-retirement job for you. If you worked as a teacher prior to retirement, for instance, you could look into private tutoring, test preparation, part-time substitute teaching, or you could become an online tutor if you like the idea of working from home. While not all teaching and tutoring positions require a related background, many require a bachelor’s degree.

Assist Others Virtually

If you worked as an administrative assistant or secretary before retirement and you’re comfortable writing and using technology, taking on a part-time role as a virtual assistant could be ideal for you. To work as a virtual assistant, you typically need a reliable internet connection, access to phone and email, strong organizational skills, and experience using Microsoft Office.

Walk Dogs or Sit for Pet Owners

If you love animals and you’re looking for active work that gets you out of the house and moving around, the perfect post-retirement job for you could be a part-time dog walker or pet sitter. Plus, mobile apps like Rover, Wag, and Fetch connect you to pet owners in need of these services—and you can set your own hours and rates.

Start a Business

Whether you’ve recently retired or you’ve been out of the workforce for years, retirement is the perfect time to start a business of your own. Starting a business allows you to use a special skill or expertise to supplement your retirement income—all while setting your own hours and pace.

One important step in starting a business is choosing a business entity, such as an LLC or corporation. With a California LLC, for example, you get tax perks, meaning that your business is exempt from federal taxes. You’ll also be in good standing with the government and can avoid potential penalties if you register your LLC early on.

Also, keep in mind that all working professionals—especially small business owners—need a reliable mobile device that allows them to stay in touch with their customers, respond to email inquiries, and monitor their company’s online presence. If your current phone is old, outdated, or doesn’t connect to the internet, it’s time to upgrade to a reliable smartphone that comes equipped with everything you need to successfully run a business in your golden years.

Set Up a Home Office

If your new career allows you to work from home, you should dedicate a space in your home that’s quiet and provides privacy. You’ll want quality equipment to help with productivity. It’s also a good idea to invest in comfortable furniture. For example, an ergonomic office chair can improve your posture and minimize the likelihood of joint pain.

Don’t Miss Out on Your Golden Years

In conclusion, if you’re going to work in retirement, doing something you enjoy is crucial. However, working in retirement isn’t ideal for everyone, and it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of doing so before deciding whether a part-time job will be right for you.

If you’d like to learn more about how the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics provides support to seniors, please visit our website or contact us at (888) 963-9123.

Image courtesy of Pexels

How Older Adults Can Live More Fully on a Fixed Income by Karen Weeks

Living on a fixed income can be a big stress for older adults. However, with a little tweaking, you might be surprised at how far those dollars can stretch! If you feel like things are just a little too tight, here’s how to get your finances back on track.

Dig Into the Details

When was the last time you sat down and configured a budget? A personal budget can be pivotal in developing financial security. Start by sitting down and calculating your total monthly income, and then add up all of your monthly bills. You will subtract your bills from your income, and ideally, this will equal zero.

If you have bills that are only due occasionally, be sure to include them in your calculations. As State Farm explains, this isn’t too hard. If the bill is due once annually, for instance, divide it by twelve and plug that number in as the amount you would set aside for it every month. If it’s due quarterly, divide it by four and use that number. Remember odds and ends like clothing and car repairs in your calculations. Also be sure to include things you’re saving toward, like a vacation, and your entertainment expenses, like eating out and going to movies.

You might not get a zero balance on your first try. Money left over can go toward monthly savings or to pay down debts. If you’re in the red, however, you need to do some tweaking. Fixing your budget might sound tough at first, since you either need more money, or you need to cut expenses. Luckily, there are many ways to do this.

Boost Your Income

Plenty of older adults have turned to side-jobs to help boost their budget. It’s a great opportunity to pad your bank account and do something productive. Think about what skills you have and how you can put them to work, and think of something you’ll look forward to doing. For instance, if you love driving, you might enjoy becoming a rideshare driver.

Many older adults opt to dust off their old careers and talents. You can easily find freelance work through job boards, which as a bonus is a work-from-home option these days. And for an extra job perk, you can keep your mind sharp and boost your mood. There are opportunities for architects, attorneys, engineers, customer service reps, and almost anything else you can imagine.

Another option seniors should consider is selling things. You can sell handmade goods online, or used or vintage items. Perhaps you have some old collections you’d like to declutter, which could get you off to a good start. Or you could scour thrift stores and yard sales for valuable goods at cut-rate prices, then turn around and sell them on the appropriate websites.

Cut Your Expenses

Cutting monthly expenses might sound tougher than boosting income, but there are some things you can cut that you probably won’t even miss. One of the easiest is your cable bill, since these days, you can stream your entertainment. Similarly, if you’re still paying for a landline phone and you’re comfortable with a smartphone, time to snip the hardwired version. Thrift shopping for clothing and household items can also save a pretty penny, and you can stretch your grocery budget by hitting the clearance aisle and using coupons.

Another idea is to refinance your home to cut down on your monthly mortgage payments. With interest rates at historical lows, this can be a terrific option if you plan on residing in your home long-term.

Is it time to tighten your belt? You might be thinking you aren’t really living that high on the hog, but fixing your finances is practical and easier than you think. Configure a budget, and if you need a little more income, look at what jobs might be fun for you, or trim away at your expenses here and there. You’ll see that even with a fixed income, there are surprisingly comfortable ways to fix your finances.

The California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics works to support the statewide senior population through educational programs, networking opportunities, and public policy initiatives.

Image via Pexels
Useful Tips & Insights for Older Adults by Libby Howell
Wanting To Embrace Technology
While younger generations may have an easier time adapting to smartphones, apps, tablets and other advanced technology, older adults can also learn how to include gifs in their text messages and send electronic payments with confidence. Many adults only need proper guidance, the right teacher and some patience to get the hang of technology. With that in mind, here are several tips and tricks to help aging adults embrace technology.

Recognize Anxiety and Intimidation
One of the first steps to becoming more tech-savvy is acknowledging one’s anxiety, hesitation and feelings of intimidation about technology. Doing so can help put the matter in perspective by reminding older adults of other times they felt anxious, intimidated or hesitant and eventually overcame those emotions. This mindset can foster a sense of determination, which can keep adults going when they feel like giving up and losing the wonderful opportunities that technology can present.

Use Search Engines
Search engines present an invaluable resource not only to aging adults but to anyone of any age who’s curious. Learning how to curate search engine results and select a link that suits a person’s desires and learning style can open a world of possibilities. Mastering the efficient use of search engines also helps when older adults don’t have someone else around to teach them or show them how tech works.

Embrace New Methods of Staying Connected
For those times when search engines aren’t enough, older adults can reach out to family and friends through video chat through a laptop. Fortunately, you can often find great savings on fast, reliable laptops that will provide nice built-in mics, high-quality webcams, and excellent performance to handle video chat apps and programs. Video chat helps older adults feel connected to family and friends, and it offers visual learning aids missing from impromptu phone tutorials. Beyond embracing technology, video chat can replace various types of face-to-face interactions, such as connecting older adults through book clubs, movie nights and game nights even while isolating at home.

Stay Protected
Technology is not without its risks, such as identity theft, hacking, malware and viruses. Online thugs often target aging adults because of their lack of knowledge of how to protect themselves, which could contribute to hesitation to use technology and the internet. Some of the first lessons older adults interested in using technology must learn surround issues like password protection, cybersecurity and identifying potential viruses and malware. Online resources and video tutorials help adults safeguard their financial and personal information, allowing them to navigate technology with one less thing to worry about.

Practice Patience
Anyone getting used to new technology, no matter their age, must remain patient with themselves. It may take several days or weeks to learn and discover all the features a single piece of technology offers. Updates and upgrades also require a measure of patience. Taking breaks as needed and practicing skills after learning them can help keep frustration at bay.

Change the Settings
Those with vision or hearing problems may experience the added aggravation of having a hard time seeing or hearing the words and sounds issuing from a phone, computer or tablet. It is crucial to know where to find the settings for devices and how to change them to increase the volume or make text bigger. Straining to see or hear may impede making the most of technology and learning how to use it.

With the right approach, perspective and learning tools , older adults can make the most of technology. Given enough time and perseverance, they may even become more adept with phones or the internet than younger generations!

Thank you presenters and attendees at the virtual meeting. We learned so much about these topics and had a wonderful opportunity to connect & share. If you missed it, the Zoom recording is linked below. We are also working on compiling the resources from the chat, stay tuned for those.

Below you will find 6 presentations from Gerontology students and professionals. You can view their original presentations below, and listen to the Zoom recording of their presentations here:

October 29 Live Presentations

Assessment of Hearing, Interventions and the Effects of Age-Related Hearing Loss Presenter    Edward Garcia

Comorbidities in Older Adults With and Without Fibromyalgia Presenters    Caitlin Gower    Miriam Gamboa    Breanna Arroyo    Jennifer Trevitt    Laura Zettel-Watson

Age Friendly Campus Inventory: California State University, Long Beach Presenters    Alexandra Wilkinson    Maria Claver    Adriana Weathersby    Nicole Smith

Green Spaces for Older Adults with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Note there is no narration for this video, enjoy the sounds of nature and “green spaces” as it may be. Presenter:    Miriam Gamboa

Making the Move: Older Adults Decisions about Moving to Assisted Living Presenter    Mary Marshall

Claver – Response to Atlantic Hurricanes of 2017 Presenter    Maria Claver

Please watch the presentations then bring your questions and comments to the live meeting on Thursday, October 29 at 9:00am (PT). At our live meeting, presenters will provide a live overview of their research then we will have time for questions and further inquiry about presentation topics.

Join us on the 29th on Zoom: https://csus.zoom.us/j/84405591507 
Passcode not required. If you need to phone in:

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 844 0559 1507
Find your local number: https://csus.zoom.us/u/k3btaynn

Professor Emeritus James E. “Jim” Birren, the founding dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and an aging research pioneer considered by many to be the father of modern gerontology, passed away on January 15, 2016 at the age of 97. As the co-founder of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics, we are saddened by this news and appreciate his passion and support of the organization over the years.

For a more complete remembrance please read the USC Davis School of Gerontology’s article.