Ageism

[yssie]

merrijoy - try odesk.com, I showed a friend this thread and she said she knows other people have had good luck with it. I think the sites I frequent are a bit too specific for what they''re looking for.



AJ - oh, but your head is a lovely place

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 3/22/2010 11:15:26 PM
Author: merrijoy
And to be fair, if this was 20+ years ago, my parents would have made a great housing construction team. My dad is very handy and my mom is great with interiors. If only it were 20 years ago.

I am SO unhandy and I have a handyman that I use often for jobs around he house and I would be lost without him! I would guess his age to be around 70. I have gotten to konw him over the past few years and he told me that he needs to keep working because his wife is a compulsive spender (kind if sad).

Anyway, in addition to doing home handyman type work he recently started working at a independent living type place and asked for my refereince. I told him I would be happy to give it as long as he did get to busy take my jobs!

its a senior type living place but the seniors have thier own apartments and often need things done so its a great source of work.

He Also works at Lowes part time.

I don''t think he makes a huge amount of money but in this economy he is happy to have some income comeing in.

The fact that your dad is handy could be a useful skill.

This man is a retired teacher and was forced to retire. So yes, I definately feel he was as victim of ageism.

I found him when I was thinking of selling my house during my divorce (thankfully things worked out in the settlement and i was able to keep it) but when I was preparing to sell because I thought I had to, my real etate agent gave me this guys name. They apparently use to teach togetherl.

 

[Maisie]

I couldn''t sleep and I was thinking about your parents. How is your mother with children? If I could choose a babysitter I would choose someone your mothers age rather than a young girl. Could this be an option for her? Is it something she could cope with and enjoy?

 

[lulu]

Merrijoy-Your folks are in the US, right? Do they receive Social Security? How about food stamps? Do they own their home? Is the mortgage paid off?

 

[merrijoy]

Date: 3/23/2010 11:02:04 AM
Author: Maisie
I couldn''t sleep and I was thinking about your parents. How is your mother with children? If I could choose a babysitter I would choose someone your mothers age rather than a young girl. Could this be an option for her? Is it something she could cope with and enjoy?

I will reply more later, but I just want to tell you Maisie, you have a very kind heart. Thank you so much for thinking so much about them.

 

[merrijoy]

Date: 3/23/2010 12:06:40 AM
Author: PinkAsscher678

Date: 3/22/2010 11:58:54 PM
Author: merrijoy

Date: 3/22/2010 11:49:34 PM

Author: PinkAsscher678

If this helps at all, I worked as a trainer for many years at a collection agency for education loans.


Collection agencies LOVE hiring older people, for one very simple reason: People trust them more. It''s not great pay to start, but it''s usually about 12 bucks an hour plus commission. There are light computer skills involved, but nothing crazy (just entering people''s info on pre-made forms). You mostly just need to know what you are collecting, how to arrange payment plans, and talk to people on the phone.


The older people I worked with always made bank, much more so than the young kids straight out of high school or college. Older people tend to be more mellow and sound more knowledgeable and non threatening, which is a huge plus in the collection world. People tend to want to hold a conversation with them. Plus, you get to sit down at your desk, so there is zero physical labor. These jobs are always in demand.


I worked with so many older people who were nervous about finding work, or who had been laid off from jobs. I am still really good friends with many of them. One lady I trained was 72 years old and make $6,000 commission after about 9 months on the job.


People these days are trying to clean up their credit so it won''t be as terrible as it sounds haha. It was a great job for me while it lasted, they should seriously look into it.

I will look into this for them. Sounds very good. I worry about them a lot and my dad is bravado and stubborn. But I got my stubborness from him, and I will keep trying.. I know that he will think that that amount is not enough for him, but maybe I can talk to my mom about this. The computer skills may scare her. Oh and unfortunately, the state we live in, many, many positions look for bi-lingual and even tri-lingual. That part really stinks as it is very hard to learn a new language as well.

I trained many people that didn''t even have basic typing skills. On average, it took even the most unprepared person about 2-3 weeks to get comfortable. I have traveled to many different agencies for training and almost all those places have bi-lingual ''call crossers.'' It''s these people''s jobs to work the floor and handle calls to non English speaking households. Most agencies hire these positions exclusively to assist the other employees.

I know the pay isn''t ideal, but it can be a really good ''starter'' or transitional job until something better comes along. And in today''s job market it''s good to have at least a start. And as far as being stubborn... well, for a bill collector, stubborn is GOOD, especially if you''re dealing with a tough client.

PinkAsscher678 - Can you please tell me the name of the company? My dad is being very stubborn saying that there are no jobs out there. I want to show him that there are at least a few and hopefully get my mom working.

 

[merrijoy]

Date: 3/23/2010 3:10:53 AM
Author: asscherisme

Date: 3/22/2010 11:15:26 PM
Author: merrijoy
And to be fair, if this was 20+ years ago, my parents would have made a great housing construction team. My dad is very handy and my mom is great with interiors. If only it were 20 years ago.

I am SO unhandy and I have a handyman that I use often for jobs around he house and I would be lost without him! I would guess his age to be around 70. I have gotten to konw him over the past few years and he told me that he needs to keep working because his wife is a compulsive spender (kind if sad).

Anyway, in addition to doing home handyman type work he recently started working at a independent living type place and asked for my refereince. I told him I would be happy to give it as long as he did get to busy take my jobs!

its a senior type living place but the seniors have thier own apartments and often need things done so its a great source of work.

He Also works at Lowes part time.

I don''t think he makes a huge amount of money but in this economy he is happy to have some income comeing in.

The fact that your dad is handy could be a useful skill.

This man is a retired teacher and was forced to retire. So yes, I definately feel he was as victim of ageism.

I found him when I was thinking of selling my house during my divorce (thankfully things worked out in the settlement and i was able to keep it) but when I was preparing to sell because I thought I had to, my real etate agent gave me this guys name. They apparently use to teach togetherl.

I should have said my dad is able-minded. He feels younger than he is. Wants to help, but his back and legs start acting up quickly. As he says, his body is not what it once was.

 

[merrijoy]

Bumping. PinkAsscher678, can you please tell me which company it was you were mentioning here? It would be really helpful for my parents (and maybe the many others I see on these boards looking for work). Thanks so much!

 

[arjunajane]

Hey merri,
thought I''d give this thread a bump, and also ask how''s things going with your folks?
Any developments?

 

[lilyfoot]

Date: 3/23/2010 11:36:28 AM
Author: merrijoy

Date: 3/23/2010 11:02:04 AM
Author: Maisie
I couldn''t sleep and I was thinking about your parents. How is your mother with children? If I could choose a babysitter I would choose someone your mothers age rather than a young girl. Could this be an option for her? Is it something she could cope with and enjoy?

I will reply more later, but I just want to tell you Maisie, you have a very kind heart. Thank you so much for thinking so much about them.

Maisie already said what I was thinking. My FI''s mom is 61, and she works full time, running a daycare out of her home.

 

[perry]

It is a difficult situation - and if your parents are having the problems you mention I do not believe the principle reason they cannot get the job they are looking for is ageism.

I run the "parents fund" for my parents - and essentially, us kids are providing support for our parents as they cannot make it on their own. We did get them into subsidized housing about a year ago which as been a major relief.

It does raise discussions among us on who will be there to help us as none of us have as many kids (I don''t have any [that I know of]) as my parents had.


The fact is that as we get older our skills become dated, decline, or both. The fact is that for most people - we expand our lifestyle to our income; and then cannot handle the cut back in income that often occurs.

I would like to tell you there is some magic solution to this. There is not.

Concerning what could your parents do: There have been several suggestions I agree with. Certain jobs such as bill collection may work. The key earnings is from commissions.

Certain sales jobs could also work - again the key earnings are from commissions. I would avoid the sales adds that you do not understand what is being offered or by whom. These tend to largely be fraudulent - and getting paid even if you sell something can be a real challenge (been there, done that).

I would not recommend anyone starting a storefront/office type business who does not have a business background. It is far more likely that they would loose their life savings than any other outcome. Employees are generally not trained in the rules of business - and generally make all the wrong decisions.

There are a variety of personal service businesses that can be started - but, these may not pay what they are looking for.

Handyman, baby sitter, etc.

If they want to get into sales: Cosmetics, nutritional products, etc can do well - if the company is well known and has a good track record. Do not get into anything that requires purchase of much inventory up front. The good companies sell you sales literature and sales samples (at a modest cost) and then let you order product when you get a real order.

However, I warn you - that if they have memory problems; and are overly stubborn - then running a personal sales business (or any personal business) probably will not work.

I believe in dreaming big - and that everyone has a potential to succeed (and I help people do that): The biggest problem is matching people to an opportunity they can do - and finding people who understand that it may take years for them to learn and change so that they can succeed. Too many people want a "get rich quick" scheme. They don''t exist. It typically takes years of college to become competent in many professions. It typically takes years of education as well to become competent in running a business as well.

The question is can someone match something to your parents that they can do - and do they have the time and capability to learn how to do it.

In the meantime; how do they adjust to a lower standard of living - and how do you and your siblings adjust to your parents situation. I know just how difficult this is - and I am the one who stepped up to a leadership roll in caring for our parents (and that has taken a toll on me - but I''ve learned a few things too).

Some personal lessons I''ve learned: You need to plan on having your house paid off by the early 50''s at the latest. You need to build a good size retirement fund.

Since I have not done either (as I had a bad decade that wiped everything out): The question is how do you recover before you run out of time (I do have a plan - and am working on it).

My best wishes - and support - for you,

Perry

 

[HollyS]

I don''t know what to say that would make you feel better; and I''m sorry that your parents are having to find work so late in their lives.

Ageism is real, it exists, and I''ve been on the employer side of the fence deciding between applicants.

Age can certainly play a part, if experience is NOT the needed job skill, because of all the things you mentioned: technical skills, alertness, ability based upon agility, etc. It''s simply a fact, and it isn''t fair to an employer to expect them to discount those very legitimate issues.

Of course, there are jobs where seniors are actually a plus. It''s the reason Wal-Mart likes to hire friendly, kind, grandparent-like greeters. It makes their customers feel comfortable and at home in their stores, doesn''t it? (I think they eventually had to start hiriing across the spectrum, because they were discriminating against non-seniors; but it was clever marketing while it lasted.)