More People Working Past Age Of Retirement For Money, Health

Published: Friday, March 1, 2019 - 1:53pm

More and more older adults are staying in the workforce longer. The reasons vary, but money tops the list.

According to the National Institute of Retirement Security, seven out of 10 Americans approaching retirement have less than a year’s income saved for retirement. But there are some benefits, besides the monetary ones, to working.

Nearly one in five people 65 and older are socially isolated, according to AARP Foundation. This means they’ve become disconnected from family, friends and their community. And social isolation has consequences when it comes to our overall health.

Jessica Langbaum is with the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. She says it’s important to engage your brain and your body to keep it healthy.

"I think whether its working, volunteering, what have you, these are great things to do in your quote unquote retirement years so you don’t stay at home and become sedentary," she said.

Langbaum says it’s also important to avoid doing the same thing over and over again — rather, she says, try to learn something new that’s challenges your brain.