over sixties jobs

moc

My husband is 64 he was made redundant five years ago and has now lost the will to live as he feels he is useless and cannot find a job, he has had some health setbacks, but is a very intelligent man and he used to be a computer programmer, but the world of computing has moved on so his skills are not wanted. He is a very good mixer and can talk to anyone. My fear is that he is not using his brain so he will loose it. Ideally a job at home or working with a group of men in the same situation would be great, he applied to B&Q and they said he was over qualified for jobs with them. Anyone got any help or ideas.

amibovvered

Has he thought of volunteer work? I know it doesn't pay anything (obviously!) but it might keep him going until he finds something that suits? Also some charitable organisations probably can't afford super-duper computer equipment so might appreciate his skills even if they are a little out-dated. Sometimes volunteering can lead directly to paid work, although perhaps not as often now with all the public service spending cuts.

I really hate it when employers talk about being over-qualified! I can understand it more with a 20-something who would just use it as a stepping-stone and be off as soon as something else turned up but for an older person this is less of an issue.

Does he like gardening - perhaps working in a garden centre?

Hope he finds something soon - it can't be easy for you either, seeing him so fed up.

PlutoinCapricorn

Volunteering can definitely lead to paid work, and I have met many volunteers in their 70s, 80s and even 90s!

scooby088

Why not try retirement he isn't that too far away from it, but there is something to be said for voluntary work something to get involved in.

ceridwen

Another vote here for volunteering.

He is now only months away from the age where he would expect to retire anyway.

My thought is whether he is someone who would find it difficult to adapt to retirement anyway - but, as he has searched for work for 5 years now and IS only months away from retirement - then maybe its time for him to put his "retirement plans" into action and think "Right - employers dont want me - but I'll darn sure find someone/some group that DOES". I think this might be the most constructive attitude to take now.

Good luck.

kingfisherblue

My dad became a trolley man after he was made redundant a few years ago - he was a chemist in a power station before that. After he retired, he still did seasonal work as Father Christmas for a few years, until ill health meant that he could not continue.

scooby088

There was an article in the local paper that a 90 odd year old was a trolley man at our local morrisons and i think that he is still doing it.

amibovvered

scooby088 wrote: »

There was an article in the local paper that a 90 odd year old was a trolley man at our local morrisons and i think that he is still doing it.

Wow - it looks incredibly hard work to me, pushing those long lines of trolleys around - all credit to him! :beer:

Angely

Wowww, since he is 64, men over this age should retire in my eyes and if he doesnt wanna spend time with anomic, maybe some volunteer work or community help.

ceridwen

I dont think the above poster has realised that it must be just as hard for a man to find he is retired perforce before 65 as it is for those women who are being forced to work on after their 60th birthday (knowing that they are supposed to be retired now if they choose to be).

Whichever sex we are we get it fixed in our heads what our retirement age is and once someone has got up into their 50s and beyond many people are simply not going to change their minds to adapt to any changing circumstances. Many men are still going to expect not to retire until 65 (even if life circumstances have made it obvious that they have been retired by force years earlier - as has happened here). The same as many women will be retired (in their heads) even if they are being forced to work on past their 60th birthday (as has now started to happen earlier this year).

Many people simply arent going to change their minds from a decision/expectation that has been in place for over 50 years.

Hence I feel sorry for O.P.s husband - that life has gone against his wishes/expectations in that way.

WatlingA5

Our local library runs a 'silver surfer' session once a week; if you have something similar in your area, you may find those running it would welcome some help from someone who knows what they're talking about