Brief Are We Taking Full Advantage of Older Adults' Potential?
Sheila R. Zedlewski, Barbara Butrica
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Staying engaged in work and formal volunteer activities at older ages significantly benefits the well-being of the volunteers, the organizations that count on them, the people served by those organizations, and the economy. This study, based on data from the Health and Retirement Survey, shows that over 10 million healthy older adults with no caregiving responsibilities did not work or volunteer in 2004. About half of these able seniors are under age 75 and 9 out of 10 have prior work experience. Given this untapped potential, shortages of volunteers and workers should prompt employers and nonprofits to court this talent.

Research Areas Nonprofits and philanthropy
Policy Centers Income and Benefits Policy Center