Working Through Retirement: Living Longer and Working More

Instead of retiring from your job and unwinding into a life of leisure, growing numbers of senior Americans are remaining employed or even choosing to return to the workforce. They are encouraged in part by the brutal economy and withering retirement funds, but retaining a career has benefits that surpass a paycheck. Research also shows that people who delay retirement may also delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Research explains that senior adults who work full or part time, sustain fewer health issues, especially if they enjoy their jobs. Apparently, working gives people a sense of meaning and purpose, which are lost once someone retires. In fact, continuing to work seems to lead to enduring mental and physical health. What may be the most interesting fact is that its not about how much you work, but how you feel about the work you do.Working at a job you don't enjoy can easily be stressful and physically exhausting. In order to stimulate the development of neural connections resulting from learning (and thus, longevity), work has to be stimulating psychologically and physically.

Another recently published study reported that employment, and other kinds of cerebral engagement such as multi-tasking and trying to win complicated games, help to maintain cognitive functioning and are associated with a decreased risk of early-onset dementia.The more stimulating work or play are, the more benefit to one's overall health. From increased mobility, appetite and well-being to decreases in depression, fatigue and isolation, continuing to work can keep us in better health longer. More physical activity translates to better sleep, weight control and less incidence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes.

In the past twenty-five years, America has seen the number of employed seniors increase steadily from 10% to over 40%. A recent survey by the AARP revealed that almost three quarters of the baby boom generation intend to continue working through their retirement years. Retirement looks vastly different from the traditional perception of the recent past and that can only be a good thing. If working longer translates healthier golden years, consider the decrease in reliance on skilled nursing and chronic disease care.

Work itself has evolved as well, into forms that allow people to rely more on their cognitive abilities and less on their ability to do physical labor. Employers are also changing and an increasing number see the value of hiring a retirement-age employee. It's a win-win situation, as the employee maintains their physical, social and cognitive skills and the employer has an increase in rates of employee retention. Working by choice is motivational and provides an all important sense of purpose to the older worker.