Aging & Work

Our projects

As longevity increases and we face critical labor shortages in work sectors and geographic regions, older adults are finding both opportunities and challenges in remaining in the workforce beyond full retirement age or in returning to paid work after retirement. While work in later life offers many health and social benefits, ageist perceptions and attitudes cause older adults to feel devalued despite deep expertise, skills, and content knowledge.

— AmeriCorps Seniors has funded the University of Maine Center on Aging to conduct a three year research project studying older adult workforce development programs around the country. Seven diverse programs are training older adults and readying them for permanent employment in various healthcare, education, legal, and caregiving positions. We are learning more about what motivates older adults to return to work in later life and what community programs need to do to be successful in attracting older workers. See our recent paper published in the GSA’s Public Policy & Aging Report in February 2025.

— CAPRA has received funding from Maine’s Department of Labor to conduct focus groups and key informant interviews to explore the reasons older Mainers are not remaining employed or returning to work. We are talking to urban and rural Mainers and large and small employers.

— The University of Maine’s 2025 Geriatrics Colloquium will be dedicated to the topic of Work and Wellness for Older Adults. Work is a social determinant of health that keeps us connected to our communities and colleagues and offers many opportunities for social health and intergenerational bonding and bidirectional learning.