Christine Henck, a 62 year- old from Bethesda, Md, is in her third career. For the past seven years she has been a licensed massage therapist working out of her home in Bethesda, Md, in what used to be her children’s playroom.
Since she started her business, her cliental have been towards people in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Mrs. Henck says, “I don’t see my clients as old… I am in my last third of life now, too. It’s making this moment better for me. I am experiencing for myself, for the first time, what 60 to 90 is going to be like.”
Mrs. Henck has stepped into a booming field. The amount of massage therapists working is predicted to grow 23 percent by 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As the population ages, jobs like a massage therapist, nutritionist, handyman or caterer will be on the rise.
According to the Pew Research Center, the nation’s population of people over the age of 65 will double by 2050. Around 86 million American’s will be over 65. This “boom” of seniors is creating new fields and jobs for those in their mid-50’s to 70’s to take for those in their 80’s or older.
Keven Cahill, an economist at Boston College states, “About 60 percent of the career workers take on a part-time job after exiting their main career, and many older Americans not only change occupations, but in large numbers they also transition from wage-and-salary employment into self-employment.” This is a perfect position to be in for people who want to stay in their own homes, instead of moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home.
According to an AARP survey, around 90% of those 65 and older want to stay in their home as long as possible, and 80% say that their home currently is where they will always be.
As a result, more jobs are being created to help satisfy the desires of seniors wanting to keep themselves busy and feeling fulfilled.
Here are some of the jobs in demand:
- Financial Planner
- Personal Assistant
- Travel Guide
NurtureCare can help make your dream of staying in your home a reality; with hundreds of amazing caregivers lined up to work, you and your loved one can stay in your home as long as you like.
Hannon, Kerry. “An Aging Population Also Poses Opportunities for Retirement Careers.” The New York Times, 7 Mar. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
