Having a job over 50 for those who want one can boost overall wellbeing.
The University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging found that more than two thirds of people who work after 50 say it helps their physical and mental health.
“We know that work has potential to impact people’s health, and that health challenges can make work more difficult. These dynamics could possibly be amplified for older adults who wish to work. This study sought to describe in greater detail the connections between work and health among older adults,” Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., poll director and a primary care physician at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan told Theravive.
“We found that, among working adults age 50 and older, work has positive impacts on their physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. These outcomes are especially pronounced for working adults age 65 and older. Many working adults age 50 and older also report that work helps keep their brain sharp, provides social connections, and gives them a sense of purpose. Yet, many older adults who want to work face barriers to doing so. For example, nearly one-third of adults age 50 and older who are not retired report that disability, chronic illness, or poor health limit their ability to work.”
63% of poll respondents aged 50 to 64 said they worked full time or part time either for an employer or self employed. 18% of poll respondents who were aged 65 and older said the same thing.
The respondents who were still working beyond the age of 65 were more likely than their peers to report that work had a positive impact on their health and well being, as well as to agree that working kept their brain sharp.
46% of those who work reported that having a sense of purpose was an important reasons why they continued working.
“Research has shown that having a strong sense of purpose is associated with a range of positive physical health and mental health outcomes, including lower levels of depression and anxiety,” Kullgren said.
But the poll also found there could be negative effects to working over 50, as well as barriers for older adults seeking work.
Of those polled who were 50 and older, 33% said that their job had a negative impact on their physical health, whilst 29% said their job had a negative effect on their mental health.
For older adults who reported their mental health was fair or poor, 22% reported that they couldn’t take time away from work for appointments related to their health.
39% of older adults who aren’t retired reported they faced at least one barrier to working and many noted there were multiple barriers.
More than 80% of those who aren’t working but also aren’t retired reported at least one barrier.
These included disability, poor health or chronic illness, lack of training, experience or skills, caregiving responsibilities, limited transportation and legal actions.
“Many adults age 50 and older who want to work face important barriers to doing so, including personal health challenges; needing additional training, skills, or experience; having limited transportation options; and caregiving responsibilities. People who seek to work and face such barriers could be better supported by having access to ample time off work to attend healthcare appointments, training programs to learn new skills to meet the needs of today’s workforce, robust public transportation systems, and programs to assist with caregiving responsibilities,” Kullgren told Theravive.
Among the top reasons older people continued to work were saving for retirement, financial stability, access to health insurance and contributing to society.
Kullgren says the findings of the poll are an important reminder of the role employers can play in helping older adults remain in the workplace if they choose to do so.
“For those age 50 and older, work not only has important financial benefits but also important health benefits. Yet, many older adults who seek to work face health and social barriers to doing so. Employers and clinicians have important roles to play in helping older adults realize the health benefits of working, as well as achieve the good health needed to participate in the workforce and experience these benefits,” he said. “
“We hope these results will help employers and clinicians better support the unique needs of older adults in the workforce so that more of these individuals can reap the financial and health benefits of working into the future.”