Self-Employment Case Studies
Self-employment and work at home opportunities are often desirable options for the older worker. Older workers usually have the discipline and motivation to work on their own without supervision and self-employment provides the flexibility of scheduling that may be needed.
Working out of the home is sometimes a necessity because of transportation issues and health limitations that may impact the individual's ability to maintain a regular work schedule. Self-employment allows an older person to work at his/her own pace and can be a perfect supplement to retirement income.
At age 62 "Mary" was closed successfully working out of her home as a medical transcriptionist earning $2,000 to $2,500 a month. Because of severe health problems including heart disease and kidney failure, in addition to blindness, she was not able to maintain a job with a regular work schedule. Because Mary works at home and is paid by the page for reports that she submits to physician's offices, she is able to set her own pace. She often works long hours when she feels well. There are days when she cannot work at all because of illness and there are times when she has to stop and rest for long periods of time between reports.
"Betty" is 81 years old and self-employed teaching piano lessons to children and adults in her home, several a day, six days a week. She has been doing this since she retired from her job with the state at age 65, before losing her vision. Betty is blind in one eye and severely visually impaired in the other, extremely hard of hearing, and now uses a wheelchair to get around because of hip and leg problems, but she keeps busy and is devoted to music and her beloved students. There are times when she gets depressed, and she cries when she says that working is what keeps her from just giving up and dying.
"Ed" was successfully closed at age 81. He is self-employed as a tax accountant working out of his home and was earning $1500 a month at closure several years ago. Ed was retired from a successful career and was able to learn how to use access technology to complete tax returns
There are many others like Mary, Betty and Ed who want and need to work for whom self-employment is a viable option. Older workers often have the background and experience to start their own business.
At age 57 "Roberto" is using his background in management to start his own business providing medical identification cards. "Marian" and "Henry" are working out of their homes as greeting card editors to supplement their retirement income. "Ralph" is self-employed as a travel agent booking cruise packages out of his home. They are all doing work that they enjoy and self-employment provides them the level of flexibility that they need.
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[Appendix A] [Appendix B] [Appendix C] [Appendix D] [Appendix E] [Appendix F] [Appendix G] [Appendix H]
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