UPTON, MASSACHUSETTS (Senior Newsletter), October 29, 2004:
A retired engineer I talked with recently became an organic farmer and a greenhouse designer.
A few months ago a senior mentioned that after a lifetime of work he retired and became very anxious about being at home all the time. Fortunately, he found a part-time job soon after.
A Maryland man, whom I met soon after, had been in the military and upon retirement he contemplated many activities, settling for taking a position as a daytime driver.
They are all seniors but full of energy and with a desire to be useful and remain busy.
Some elders prefer to be volunteers, others search for a paid activity.
As a senior you may be looking for a paid activity but do not know where to start.
In reality, senior or not, you are no different from any other worker, you need to define what you are capable and interested in trying out.
For instance, sometimes teenagers want a job and they have no idea where to start. Or maybe a stay-at-home mom would love to have a job while the kids are at school, but she does not even know what or where she can work at.
So here are some questions that could help you define what you are looking for in a paid activity:
Are you looking for part-time, full-time or freelance work?
Simple, but you may want to consider part-time if you have to take care of your grandchild that goes to pre-school only twice a week.
Would you rather work from home?
Some seniors answer "No" to this question, actually they prefer to have to go to a place of business to work, it takes them away from the house, forces them to socialize, meet more people.
How many hours a day are you willing to put in on a regular basis?
If for example you are volunteering at the hospital in the afternoons and you really like it, you do not have to give up your volunteer work, just look for jobs in the mornings. Besides, your volunteer work may expose you to more job opportunities.
Are there any health issues that you need to take into account?
These could be very varied, just to name a few: mild stroke, heart issues, overweight. This is important to consider because if you have diabetes and some days you need to take it easy in the mornings, consider an employer that will be flexible, perhaps you can start a bit later in the morning and stay a half an hour extra when it is needed.
Do you prefer to work days or nights?
Not everyone wants to work first shift, you may choose to work second shift because you need to prepare lunch daily for your sister.
What sort or activity would be most rewarding to you?
For instance, some people prefer to work with their hands, so gardening or crafts may be a good idea for you. Others, prefer to interact with children, so working at a daycare or a school may be the answer to your interests.
Take a few moments and consider your options and how do they fit in your expectations and needs.
But keep in mind that you are doing just like million of other workers, considering your options and you are striving to have as active as possible life
By C. Mazza
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