My name is Keith. I am 54 years old. I currently work on the maintenance crew at a large resort near my house. I love being outside and plan to continue working until I can’t anymore. My boss loves that idea. He says I know all the ins and outs of maintaining the facilities and am the most reliable team member.

I really like how the resort allows me to play on the course or go skiing on slow days and I get to use the other facilities we have available. I use the weight room and cardio machines at least twice a week when I am done with work. I really can’t remember the last time I have taken a sick day.

Although I really had not thought about it before, I also am really glad my boss came up with ideas that has made my work easier. I now wear a back brace under my shirt, so I don’t feel so much strain when I move things around. They also put in more lighting in our shop so it’s easier to see what we are doing. In fact, we haven’t had any accidents in the past three years. I really appreciate how management has taken steps to ensure we are healthy and has made an effort to keep us from getting injured.

My name is John and I am 67 years old. I have worked as an accountant for several different companies over the course of my life and recently retired. I decided to return to work because I felt I still had something to contribute. The first company I interviewed with did not seem to give me the time of day. Even though I am a certified public accountant and worked for a major accounting firm before I retired, my interviewer kept asking me questions about my memory and ability to “do math.” I did not feel welcomed.

I talked to a friend who was a high school teacher and worked out a plan with her school where she started reducing her teaching load from full-time to only a few classes each term. A sort of phase out from work. When she finally did retiree, the school offered her a chance to “retire and then get rehired’ on a part-time basis and now she now fills in as a substitute teacher when they need her.

She introduced me to the Principal and HR Director and I asked if they needed any one to teach a finance class. It was a case of good timing because they were having a hard time filling a position for the coming term. I have now been working part time as a finance teacher for the last three years. They also have asked me to mentor other teachers and school employees who wanted to learn more about personal finance and saving for college and retirement. I really enjoy helping out my co-workers and I feel they accept my help and mentorship. It has been fun to interact with such a diverse team.

Better yet, after I told the principal I could use some updating on my skills and need to learn about current accounting software programs, she gladly afforded me the time to enroll in a class at the local community college. In fact, I have taken three classes and feel really connected with the students who certainly help me keep up with the times. Who knew coming back to work would be so much fun!

My name is Sandra and I am 63 years old. After starting my career as a human resource professional, I have become quite busy raising my three children. While I had saved enough for their college expenses, I went to a financial workshop and I learned I did not have enough of my own retirement savings. I realized I needed to go back to work full time for about 5 to 6 years to reach my savings goal.

Through an ad placed on a local seniors’ website, I found a great health care company that was looking for someone to serve as a staff manager at a local assisted living facility. Not only did this job offer a chance to go back into personnel management but the company offered to pay for my health insurance until I retire and then cover my Medicare supplemental health insurance for 10 years after I retire if I worked full time for five or more years. They also introduced me to some different options supported by the state of Colorado that help me increase my retirement savings without paying taxes. The woman who hired me said the company was having a hard time finding people with my experience and skill set, and she found that paying for my supplemental health insurance and helping with retirement savings was a new strategy their company was using to attract people like me.

It seems to have paid off for both of us. I love working here and am so relieved about my retirement options.

My name is Mary, and I am 52 years old. After my mom died, my dad started having trouble taking care of himself. It got worse after he fell and hit his head. After getting home from the hospital, he needed someone to take care of him. I am thankful someone in my company told me that the Family Medical Leave Act is not just for new mothers. The benefit allowed me to take up to 12 weeks to stay home and be with my dad. During this time, I also learned my company offers resources for caregivers through our Employee Assistance Program. That was a blessing because I found a service that will send someone out to look after Dad when I go to work.

After a while, though, Dad got worse. He began having trouble with his memory and his doctor diagnosed him with Alzheimer’s disease. I did not want to send him into an assisted living facility. My sister and I discussed that if we both could help out, then we should be able to keep dad home. I asked my HR director if we could work out a flexible schedule where I would work a greater number of hours but only 3 or 4 days a week so I could be at home more to help my sister. I was fine with a decrease in salary, but I needed to keep my health insurance coverage and wanted to keep contributing to my retirement savings. Fortunately, my HR director was able to work out a flexible schedule where I had more freedom to work longer days and also be able to take care of my Dad. For that, I am so thankful. I would have had to quit otherwise because taking care of my dad has become a second “full time job”.