Elizabeth Pope

Blacklisted! Older Workers Need Not Apply


Blacklisted! Unemployed Face Bias
When the unemployed need not apply, older workers may suffer most
by: Elizabeth Pope | from: AARP Bulletin | May 3, 2011


Talk about adding insult to injury: Unemployed workers face yet another hurdle in the post-recession job hunt.

Some online listings at Careerbuilder, Craigslist, Monster and other websites flatly state "must be currently employed," or "the unemployed will not be considered at all."

Some with a bit more flexibility say that applicants can be unemployed for up to three months, a caveat that spells trouble for 55-plus job hunters, who on Although there are no statistics on the exclusion of the unemployed from the hiring process, such language is easy to find in online listings and is not specific to any industry, says Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the Washington-based National Employment Law Project (NELP).

"We've found 60 such listings in the last month for jobs ranging from restaurant manager to engineers," she said. "Older unemployed workers tell us they feel like they have been blacklisted."
Some companies, she adds, even use code words such as "vibrant work history" or "current skills" to signal their preferences to recruiters for young, employed, tech-savvy workers. "Must have small hands" could be code for an attractive young female candidate.
'Must be young or young at heart'
Requirements in a recent Careerbuilder listing for a $60,000 restaurant manager job at an unnamed casual-dining chain in Shreveport, La., include "must be currently employed in restaurants or recently unemployed (1-3 months)" as well as being "young or young at heart."
"Our searches are confidential because our clients don't want to be bombarded with résumés," says a recruiter at the Minneapolis-based firm that handled the listing and requested anonymity. "With the bad economy, employers can be more picky."

Indeed, employer bias against the unemployed may be worse than explicit job postings indicate, says John Sullivan, professor of management at San Francisco State University.
"Human resource departments are telling recruiters and staffing agencies not to waste their time sending applications from people out of work six months or longer," he says. "Recruiters are getting chastised for it, no matter how perfect the individual's qualifications for the job." Companies' primary concern, he adds, is that unemployed individuals' skills are out of date and retraining would cost money.

Companies bolder about bias
Employer bias toward hiring current workers is nothing new, says Phil Rosenberg, president of reCareered.com, a career coaching service.


"What's different is companies are bold enough to state it in job descriptions because there's so much talent available now. Hiring managers assume employed workers must be better to have survived the current economic Darwinism."
The unemployed are not considered a protected class under U.S. law, so excluding them from hiring is not illegal, says NELP's Conti. However, such practices may disproportionately affect various population groups — older workers, women, people of color and people with disabilities — who are protected.
New Jersey just passed a law banning online and print advertisements that discriminate against the unemployed, and other legislation has been introduced in Congress.

"The New Jersey law is well-intentioned, but it doesn't go far enough," says Conti. "Just because you can't run an ad doesn't mean you can't discriminate in hiring. This could drive the practice further underground."
Conti's organization is working on a bill that would ban such discrimination and ensure that unemployed workers receive the same consideration as employed workers in hiring.

A success story
Despite employer bias, some older workers are beating the system. Job support groups and a fellowship training program helped Mike White, 62, of Newington, Conn., survive 15 months of unemployment.
"I networked as much as I could because at my age almost 90 percent of jobs come through networking," says White, who was downsized in January 2010 after more than two decades in the banking and finance industries. He devoted more than 40 hours a week to online research and job support meetings where he honed interview skills and learned the latest electronic job-hunting techniques.

White was also accepted for a four-month fellowship program with Encore!Hartford, a program through the University of Connecticut that trains corporate executives for new professional positions in the nonprofit sector through classes, job shadowing and two-month unpaid internships.

"The fellowship really got my creative juices going when I was beginning to flag," he said. "I learned to recast my résumé to appeal to the nonprofit sector, which is more interested in your skills than your age."
Despite his overtures to nonprofits, White was hired as a lending officer in a financial institution in April. "What worked was fine tuning my résumé and cover letter for every job," he says. "I used key words from the job description so the computer software would not reject the initial application." In interviews, he was primed to answer any questions with detailed stories of his problem-solving prowess.



Advice for the long-term unemployed
Ignore companies that exclude the unemployed and focus on organizations that are friendly to older workers, says reCareered.com's Phil Rosenberg. "SimplyHired.com's advanced search feature filters jobs by companies that are 50-plus-friendly," he says. "Look for industries like health care, financial services and retail that cater to older customers. They are more likely to hire older workers." Companies on AARP's National Employer Team also value mature workers
Nonprofit organizations are ripe with potential for age 50-plus adults, says David Garvey, director of Encore!Hartford. "Nonprofits view seasoned professionals as a new pool of resources," he adds. Nearly 80 percent of Encore!Hartford's graduates have found work, according to Garvey.

Employee referrals produce the highest number of hires of any recruiting source, says John Sullivan of San Francisco State University. You should network in job support groups and use social media websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to find contacts within a target company.
Tough times call for tough tactics, adds Sullivan. Disguise your unemployed status by keeping your résumé updated to when you were employed or using open-ended dates (or leave them off). In the interview you can say "I was too busy to update the résumé" and then explain your work status.

"Never use the word 'laid-off' in a cover letter or résumé," he says. "In the interview, you mention you were 'riffed' or that the company had a reduction in force. That's good business speak."
Elizabeth Pope writes about work and retirement.

Sitting is the New Smoking
Sitting: Hazardous to Your Health Even 'active' couch potatoes may face risks by: Elizabeth Pope | from: AARP Bulletin | Updated January 6, 2012 Here's another easy, no-sweat way to markedly improve your health in the new year — stop sitting so much. You'll live longer. Mounting evidence suggests that sitting for long periods increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer and early death, even for people who exercise daily. And yet Americans now sit more than they sleep, spending an average of 10 hours a day in a car, at work and in front of a television. Older adults are the worst offenders, according to federal government statistics: Almost three-quarters are sedentary, and more than four in 10 get no leisure-time physical activity at all. To reduce your cancer risk, the American Institute of Cancer Research is urging Americans to add mini-breaks from sitting to a daily regimen of getting at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous exercise. "If you reduce sitting by five minutes an hour, at the end of a long day, you've shaved an hour off your total sitting time," says Alpa Patel, M.D., senior epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society. That advice applies as well to "active couch potatoes," who hit the gym or take that daily brisk walk, because some research indicates daily exercise is not enough protection from the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle. In a University of South Carolina study, even physically active men were 64 percent more likely to die of heart disease if they sat more than 23 hours a week in front of the TV, compared with those who sat 11 hours a week or less. Prolonged sitting appears to have powerful metabolic consequences, disrupting processes that break down fats and sugars in the blood. In animal studies, inactive mice and rats quickly develop higher blood fats and lower levels of good cholesterol, which together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. An Australian study suggests a link between a sedentary lifestyle and several key biological indicators of cancer risk, including insulin resistance, inflammation and body weight. Older adults will remember pre-soccer-mom days of walking to school, biking to baseball practice, hanging up laundry and washing the dishes. Technology, experts say, has engineered physical activity out of daily life. With the advent of personal computers and cable TV, not to mention remotes and garage door openers, there is scarcely a reason to get out of your seat. Next: Less physical activity in the workplace. >> Physical activity in the workplace has fallen, too, according to a recent study. Fifty years ago, more than half of American jobs involved moderate physical activity, often in manufacturing or agriculture, reports Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. "Today it's less than 20 percent — we're tied to our desks," says Tim Church, M.D., a Pennington professor and the study's lead author. Last year, registered dietitian Jill Weisenberger wrote a book and started worrying about sitting too much. "I jog every morning, but what about the other 23 hours a day? I've read that sitting makes the blood vessels less elastic, and I didn't want to be a jogger and a dietitian with heart disease," says Weisenberger, 50, of Yorktown, Va. At home she began walking a circuit while cooking dinner. Then she bought a desk equipped to fit over a treadmill and now logs 30 to 35 miles a week walking at 1.4 miles per hour. "I can type, read email, surf the Net — anything except have pretty handwriting," she says. The Cancer Society's Patel stands during conference calls, uses a printer in another office, and eschews email and the telephone to walk over to a colleague's office. She also sits on an exercise ball. "It's called 'active sitting.' If you slouch you fall off," she says. She takes a brisk 20-minute walk at lunch, adding longer walks before or after work. By reducing sitting time and ramping up physical activity, Patel also lost 40 pounds in six months. Also of interest: 10 tips for smart snacking. >>

Elizabeth Pope is a writer based in Portland, Maine.

To Stand More, Sit Less


Step away from the computer and take a nice walk on your lunch break. — Photo by cultura/Corbis
Deliver messages to colleagues in person instead of texting or emailing.
Look at minor chores as an opportunity to prevent disease.
Place the stapler and wastebasket on the other side of the office.
Reduce TV viewing. Stand up when fast-forwarding or changing channels.
Put your computer on a plastic milk crate on the desk and work standing up.
Set your computer to remind you to stand up and stretch every 30 minutes.
Stand up when the phone rings.
Think of ways to add physical activity to your workday and leisure time.
Use the bathroom down a flight of stairs.

Those Extra 10 lbs. May be Good for You
Those Extra 10 Pounds May Be Good for You
Doctors debate how healthy overweight but fit is

by: Elizabeth Pope | from: AARP Bulletin | November 21, 2011


The day after Thanksgiving, a collective groan goes up as millions of Americans step on the bathroom scale. But here's a consoling thought: A few extra pounds may in fact be a good thing — plumping up a sagging face and providing protective cushioning for increasingly brittle bones.


A growing body of evidence points in this direction. In 2005, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at body mass index or BMI — an estimate of a person's body fat calculated by height and weight — and found that overweight people [with a BMI of 25 to 29.9] had less chance of dying than people with a normal BMI or a low BMI. For those over age 70 the evidence was even stronger. Says Katherine M. Flegal, CDC senior research scientist and lead author of the 2005 study, "The lower your BMI the worse your chances of survival."
"Banging on older people just because their BMI is 26 or 27 [when] some researchers say it's supposed to be under 25 is just silly," says G. David Williamson, a professor at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. "I don't see any evidence that function or longevity are compromised in that narrow range."
For people with osteoporosis a few extra pounds may actually be beneficial. "The more stress you put on bones, the more they grow, so someone who weighs more will have denser bones," says Timothy Church, M.D., professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. "That's an advantage as we grow older and lose one to two percent of muscle a year."
Younger or plumper?
Another plus to a little body fat is that it provides "volume replacement," filling in the wrinkles and sunken areas of the face to provide a more youthful appearance. Last year, doctors at Case Western Reserve University compared photos of identical twins ages 40 and older and found the heavier twin, with a BMI at least four points higher, looked younger than the thinner sibling, who often appeared gaunt or haggard. For twins over age 55, the twin with a BMI that was eight points higher looked younger, according to the study.



Still, some health experts are wary of giving the nod to even a few extra pounds, given that nearly 28 percent of Americans are obese, with a BMI of 30 or greater. "If you're at a low or ideal body weight, then gaining an extra five or 10 pounds may be beneficial," says Miriam E. Nelson, Tufts University professor and coauthor of The Strong Women's Guide to Total Health. "But if you're overweight or obese, or have hypertension or impaired glucose tolerance, then you don't want to gain weight." Obesity also dramatically increases the risk of diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease.
Focused on fitness
No matter what the bathroom scale says, the experts agree that a regimen of physical activity and a healthy diet cuts the risk of disease and death.
"Fitness is more important than fatness in determining mortality," says Steven N. Blair, an epidemiologist at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health. In studies of thousands of overweight and obese adults over the last two decades, Blair has found fitness reduces the risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer. "We've seen dramatic reductions in mortality even in obese individuals who are fit," he adds.



How much exercise is necessary to join the fat-but-fit club? New federal guidelines advise 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise.
Since developing type 2 diabetes about 10 years ago, James B. Smith II, 73, of Baton Rouge has battled his weight. When one of Smith's medications no longer seemed effective, his doctor raised the possibility of insulin injections. "After that I was even more motivated to get in shape," says Smith. He is enrolled in a three-times-a-week study on exercise and diabetes at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, peddling 20 minutes on an exercise bicycle and walking another 20 on a treadmill. "The other day after exercising my glucose came down 96 points — it was just amazing."
Even though he has only lost five pounds, he hopes the exercise regime will help control his diabetes. "I would love to lose 50 pounds, but it's just really hard to lose weight when you get older.”
Holiday challenge
For many people, getting fit requires a mindset makeover, says personal trainer Nicki Anderson of Napierville, Ill. "You need to stop focusing on weight and start focusing on the healthy changes you're making," she says. Anderson preaches the 80/20 rule to her middle-aged, overweight clients. "Find the sweet spot where 80 percent of the time you move more and eat well," she says. "The other 20 percent is life — birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, vacations — so just enjoy it."
Church concurs that weight loss during the holidays is nigh impossible. "During the holidays, you're just trying to hold your own," he says. His advice: "Don't have crazy expectations but don't let the wheels come completely off the wagon."

Avoid Holiday Weight Gain
Don't let those extra 10 pounds become an extra 15. Follow these tips for surviving holiday feasts and sweet temptations.
Plan ahead. Before you walk into the room, decide that you'll have a light snack beforehand and limit yourself to one alcoholic drink.
Watch out for alcohol. It's got tons of calories, and after a while you forget you even have a plan.
Any exercise counts during this busy season. Wear a pedometer while holiday shopping and see how many steps you can accumulate.

Elizabeth Pope writes about health, work and retirement. She lives in Portland, Maine.

9 Quick Ways to Get Fit
9 Best Exercise Tips for Boomers
Get insider advice from nationally known trainers and coaches
by: Elizabeth Pope | from: AARP Bulletin | January 1, 2011

Want to get the most from your workout? Here are some insider tips from nationally known personal trainers, coaches and exercise physiologists:

1. The bottom line Here's the minimum you need to stay healthy: muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week plus 2 1/​2 hours a week of moderate activity like walking. Or 75 minutes a week of a more intense activity like jogging. Ask your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.


2. Get fitter faster A more intense workout burns more calories in less time, says Pamela Peeke, M.D., author of Fit to Live. "You can walk a 5-kilometer [3.1-mile] race in 40 minutes, jog it in 30 minutes or run it in under 20 minutes. Either way, you're burning the same amount of calories," she says.

3. Short spurts are best Alternate spurts of hard, high-speed activity with periods of slower activity to shorten a workout while improving fitness, says Ron Woods, a coach at the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, Fla.

4. Stronger muscles in minutes We lose muscle mass as we age, making us weaker. Two or three 30-minute weekly sessions using free weights or resistance bands will restore muscle and keep bones strong, says David Sandler, author of Fundamental Weight Training.

Your Health Tips

Got a great fitness or exercise tip for staying healthy? Let us know. We'll share some of the best with visitors to AARP.org.

5. Upper- and lower-body moves Alternating an upper-body strength training exercise with a lower-body move is a time-saver, says Gina Lombardi, author of Deadline Fitness, who has trained celebrities such as Andy Garcia. Alternate cardio moves, like rope-jumping, with strength exercises such as lunges.

6. No-sweat workout Even office workers can handle a 15-minute daily exercise break, says trainer Rick Bradley, who helps people train at work. Start with a 10-minute walk in the hallway or outdoors, then add a few exercises with resistance tubes and a couple of side bends. "The trick is to do this every day," he says.

7. Say yes to yoga A few minutes of yoga-type stretches after a workout improve flexibility, range of motion and strength in a way that aerobic activities can't, says Beryl Bender Birch, author of Boomer Yoga. An introductory class is best for beginners, since regular classes often last 90 minutes.

8. Buddy up Exercising with others makes time fly. Dodo Stevens, 67, of Portland, Maine, meets 10 women and a trainer for a 45-minute workout at a neighbor's house. Cost: $11 per person. "I love working out with other people," she says. "The whole thing is over before you know it."

9. Mix it up Exercise programs need variety. If you do the same thing all the time, your body adapts and you stop making progress, says Peeke, the fitness author. Look for classes that provide an introduction to Zumba, Bellyrobics or other new, fun activities.

Elizabeth Pope is a writer based in Portland, Maine.

Are Cars Getting Too Smart?
AARP Bulletin October 1, 2011
Are Cars Getting Too Smart?
An industry debates new auto technology
by: Elizabeth Pope

Driven a new car lately? Let's go for a ride. Backing out, the car beeps to warn a pedestrian walking by. A dashboard light illuminates if the vehicle ahead is too close. A side mirror light flashes, signaling a truck behind you in the blind spot — not a good moment to pass. And if the car senses you're drowsy or driving erratically, a chime sounds an alert.

Resembling computers on wheels, many of the latest vehicles are loaded with sensors, lasers, cameras and crash warning systems that alert drivers to blind spots and impending collisions — or when they're drifting too far out of their lane. If the driver fails to respond, some models assume control and apply the brakes. Other options assist with the pesky chore of parallel parking or maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

The aim of all the bells and whistles is, of course, safety. Such gee-whiz technology could protect older drivers, whose most common accident is failure to yield in an intersection, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Reaction time slows and vision changes with age. Drivers over age 70 may misjudge the speed of an oncoming car, and those age 80 and older may fail to see the other vehicle at all. So these warning devices could indeed save lives.

But how much is too much? Could older drivers, whose adaptation to new technology may take a little longer, be more at risk from the very safety features meant to protect them? The federal government, the auto industry and the research community are debating the potential for driver distraction from too many chimes, beeps, computerized voices, vibrating steering wheels and lights flashing on dashboards, windshields or side mirrors.

"If a three-inch light on your dashboard illuminates because you're too close to the car in front, you may look down at the dashboard first," says Bryan Reimer, a research scientist who studies human-machine interface at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab.

Dick Myrick understands how easily attention can waver. As a participant in a mid-2009 MIT study on driver distraction, he drove an SUV on major interstate highways while wired to an EKG machine that monitored his heart rate. In an exercise designed to mimic distraction, he was asked to recall numbers in a sequence, then punch them into a keypad or say them aloud. "It was distracting and very stressful," says Myrick, 62, a retired engineer from Arlington, Mass. "My heart rate went up."

Auto manufacturers are grappling with how to make high-tech gadgetry more user-friendly. Recent consumer complaints about Ford's on-board computer system, MyFord Touch, led to a downgrading of the automaker by Consumer Reports and J.D. Powers & Associates. Ford is now addressing issues with the system that has two five-way switch pads on the steering wheel and multiple screen displays.

Lack of standardization in today's sophisticated technology also ramps up the potential for distraction, says Reimer. "Every manufacturer's system is different — and nobody gets any training before they get behind the wheel."

Through trial and error (and studying the manual) Halle Schliesmann finally mastered the voice-activated navigation, temperature controls and hands-free phone link in her month-old Honda Pilot SUV. "I press a button on the steering wheel and say, 'Cabin temperature 68 degrees' or, 'Call home,' " says Schliesmann, 49, a Phoenix kindergarten teacher. "The learning curve was steep, but now I love it."

Some critics say that, more than computers on wheels, vehicles are turning into smartphones on wheels, loaded with infotainment systems that keep occupants connected to their social networks (and attract younger, tech-savvy buyers). Bluetooth technology allows electronic devices to communicate wirelessly, meaning that you can command your car to check for sport scores and movie listings, get a weather report or play Lady Gaga.

Officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation have chastised automakers for designing cars that enable radios, cellphones, navigation systems and other devices to run smoothly in the car. "We feel very strongly that just because you can do something in a vehicle — like typing on a keypad while the car is in motion — should you do it while driving?" says David Strickland, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration administrator.

Any activity — applying mascara, reading a map or talking on a cellphone — is distracting, says Amy N. Ship, M.D., assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. There is evidence, she says, that using a cellphone may be as risky as driving drunk. Ship routinely asks her patients if they use a cellphone while driving — even hands-free systems. "If the patient doesn't seem to understand the risk, I might ask, 'How would you feel if your surgeon were operating on you while he's talking on a hands-free phone?' "

The automobile industry is pouring out new technologies, many borrowed from the military and the aeronautical industry, faster than researchers can evaluate them, says Anne T. McCartt, senior researcher for IIHS. "It's still a question mark what features really work," she says. "The best features are invisible — you don't even know they are there — like side air bags, adaptive cruise control and electronic stability control, which prevents the car from rolling over on a steep curve or icy road."

Don't Want the Bells and Whistles?

You can make your driving experience safer with simple, affordable fixes — panoramic rearview mirrors, turn signal amplifiers, pedal extenders, seat belt extenders, even a seat cushion.

Contact the Association for Driver Rehabiliation Specialists at aded.net or cal 866-672-9466 toll-free.

For a CarFit checklist of safety and comfort tips, visit aarp.org/carfit
And just over the horizon, experts say, are cars equipped with medical monitoring devices to check the driver's heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar. Even more promising are cars that use wireless communication to "talk" to each other and to roadside signals to prevent collisions. In fact, several major auto manufacturers are cooperating on developing such a "connected car."

"The connected car is the next major step in the evolution of car safety, on a par with seat belts, air bags and electronic stability control," says Scott Belcher, CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. Vehicles will detect traffic jams, slippery conditions or accidents far down the road, allowing the driver to take corrective action. If the driver fails to respond, the car will brake and prevent a crash, similar to the way airplanes avoid midair collisions. The driver of a connected car, unlike the operator of the self-driving Google robotic car now being tested, retains some control behind the wheel. By 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation expects to make a decision on whether to mandate connected-car technology in future models. The DOT estimates that a fleet of connected cars could help drivers avoid 80 percent of potential crashes. NHTSA's Strickland says, "That's a great safety opportunity that has real promise."

For now, though, available advanced safety features are often standard in $50,000-and-up luxury cars or as an add-on to a standard model, says MIT's Reimer. "Since the mid-1980s, auto manufacturers have made monumental strides protecting occupants in a crash by designing cars to absorb the impact," he says. "Now the industry is making incredible strides in preventing crashes in the first place."

Elizabeth Pope contributes to the Bulletin from Portland, Maine

Caregivers Look Out For Each Other
New York Times September 15, 2011

It's critical to build a network of friends to rely on in later years. New York City women volunteer in the Caring Collaborative to help each other stay independent.

Remodel to Make Home Accessible
Baby boomers remodel with elegant universal design strategies to stay in their homes forever.
New York Times March 2, 2011

Senior Caregiving: It Takes An Army
And you thought childcare was tough. Caregiving is a job you cannot do alone. Your elder loved one will thank you for building a team.
Care.com March 17, 2011

Stand Up While You Read This
Too much sedentary time is dangerous for active exercisers as well as couch potatoes.
AARP Bulletin March 11, 2011

Faith, Hope & Networking
Faith, Hope & Networking
AARP Bulletin October 1, 2010

In the age of online applications, networking is still the way people find jobs. Churches, temples and other places of worship are setting up job networking clubs to help the unemployed -- and not just their members -- find work. Faith-based job clubs also provide hope, a place to connect, and maybe whisper a quiet prayer.

Boot Camp for Soon to Be Retired
Boot Camp for the Retired or Soon to Be
New York Times September 15, 2010

Weekend retreats, seminars and boot camps offer help on non-financial aspects of retirement i.e. when to retire, how to balance work and leisure, loss of identity and relationships with friends, family and spouses.

Have Fun Saving Money
AARP Bulletin March 2010

Saving money often feels like dieting. You know you should, but it's no fun. Try some of these "financial entertainment" ideas and enjoy watching your piggy bank grow fat.

Emerging Jobs for Baby Boomers
New York Times March 4, 2010

Maybe you haven't heard of health coaches, energy auditors and senior academic specialists, but these new encore careers are ripe with possibilities for baby boomers.

Hire Yourself
AARP Bulletin December 2009

Meet the "reluctant entrepreneurs" -- age 50-plus workers who can't find jobs, so they create their own. A teacher turned gourmet brownie baker, a musician who launched an online business and a professor who started an environmental R&D company tell you how.

What's Next.com Guide to Career Change
The complete guide to everything you need to know about how to reinvent your life and how to pay for it. Download this free, 12-page guide at www.WhatsNext.com, the premier website for baby boomers in professional and personal transition.

Seven Deadly Sins for Older Job-Seekers
AARP Bulletin October 14, 2009

A MetLife study finds that older adults, facing an uphill battle for jobs, fail to recast their job-hunting strategy in a highly competitive market. Are you guilty of Job-Hunting's Seven Deadly Sins?

Finding a Guide for Online Networking
New York Times October 15, 2009

As networking for jobs has moved online, baby boomers are getting help from the younger generation on how to use blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media to jump-start the job quest.

Fabulously Frugal
AARP Bulletin April 2009

Five baby boomers who mastered the art of simple living, share secrets of how they found the satisfaction of enough.

Experienced, Eager to Serve, Will Travel
New York Times April 2, 2009

Midlife professionals are flocking to the Peace Corps and other groups, motivated by a desire to do good or avoid a weak economy. Volunteering is a time-honored way to burnish a resume, now midlife professionals can do good around the world

Taking a Power Sabbatical
New York Times Oct. 22, 2008

Time off can be a rare opportunity to recharge, recalibrate the life-work equation or reinvent yourself. Whether financed by employers, a grant or personal savings, many people are turning to sabbaticals to figure out their next steps.

Testing the Waters with Internships
New York Times April 21, 2008

Internships aren't just for job-hunting students anymore. Older adults eager to dip into paid or unpaid work, intern before taking a full plunge.

"They Won't Let Me Retire"
AARP Bulletin March 2008

Looming labor shortages mean companies are hiring 50-plus workers. But updated skill sets are a must. Here's all you need to know to thrive in the 21st c. job market.

States Tap Pool of Older Volunteers
Chronicle of Philanthropy April 2008

As legions of baby boomers near traditional retirement age, many states are moving to ensure that charities, government, and businesses tap older people to work on social problems and fill labor shortages — and most of the states are moving at a faster pace than the federal government.

Remote Docs
Delta Sky August 2007

"My mother always told me God had spared me for a reason."
Penicillin once saved Frank Brady's life. Now he uses the latest telemedicine technologies to connect the country's top pediatric specialists with children in hospitals worldwide.

Labor Pains
AARP Bulletin April 2007

As baby boomers retire, economists predict massive labor shortages in many industries. Here's what you need to know to get hired.

Charting A Career's Turning Point
New York Times April 10, 2007

Career consultants help senior executives plan the next stage of life, a mix of volunteering, paid work, leisure travel and lifelong learning.

Moving Out
New York magazine December 11, 2006

Who says New York is for the young? An everything guide to finding quality senior housing in a city rich with options. (Reprints available.)

Taking the Slow Road
Time magazine September 24, 2006

Short-term vacation rentals provide more space and privacy than a hotel room--and let travelers explore at their own pace.

The Cure for the Common Museum
American Way magazine November 1, 2006

A dozen of the world's wackiest museums. Who knew Liberace, Pez and Spam have so much in common? (Reprints available.)

Older, Wiser, Fitter
Boston Globe magazine April 16, 2006
Notice something different in the weight room or the jogging trail? Silver-haired jocks have joined the ranks of 20-something hard bodies. And they're not just bolsering the bottom line of health clubs...they may be changing the face of aging.

Long Distance Landscaping
Country Living Gardener Spring 2006
Landscaping a second home is always a challenge. Expert advice for weekend gardeners who aren't around to water, weed, deadhead the dahlias and fight off the deer.

Your Money or Your Life
American Way January 15, 2006

Can't keep up with the bill paying, checkbook balancing and record-keeping? Small business owners, harried professionals, and Sandwich Generation caregivers are turning over their finances (and their trust) to daily money managers.

Renting in Paris: Live Like the Locals
Los Angeles Times Living Well May 2006

Vacation apartment rentals offer more space and privacy than a hotel, and save travel dollars too. What's not to love?

You CAN Fool Mother Nature
Yankee February 2006

This New England nursery fights the elements to force thousands of plants for spring flower shows. (Reprints available.)

Tricky Transition
Time magazine, August 15, 2005
Grass-roots groups, courses and programs are popping up as 50-plus adults grapple with the R word.

Wall Street of Flowers
American Way inflight magazine
April 15,2005
Take the Chicago Board of Trade, add a little New York Stock Exchange, cover it with more flowers than you'll find in the Tournament of Roses parade, and you have Aalsmeer -- Holland's Wall Street of Flowers. (Reprints available.)

Their Specialty? Anything Gray
New York Times Retirement section April 12, 2005

The graying of America provides opportunities for smart entrepreneurs. The so-called "silver industries" help clients create an ideal retirement, manage daily finances and sell or remodel their homes.

Drop and Give Me 50 Goals
American Way inflight magazine March 2005

Retirement transition coaches are helping boomers follow their dreams and make the most of the next stage of life. (Reprints available.)

Get Smart About Design
Time magazine April 25, 2005

One day those sweeping staircases and marble floors may not be so user-friendly. Homeowners who intend to stay put should think about universal-design features when they build or remodel.

Train Your Brain
Los Angeles Times Living Well section June 21, 2005

Maintain your brain and stay sharp with these tips and techniques from top memory researchers. (Available for reprint.)

Catch-Up Fitness
Time magazine June 2003

It's never too late to jump on the exercise bandwagon. Just ask these over-50 adults who've transformed their bodies.

Moving A Lifetime
Time magazine July 2004

Downsizing a family home is a headache, particularly for older adults. Moving consultants can be a godsend for families who can't face the emotional and physical challenges of sorting, packing and unpacking all the boxes.

Leaving the Sprawl Behind
AARP the Magazine Sept.-Oct. 2004

Empty nesters are abandoning sprawling suburbs for pedestrian-friendly cities, towns and planned communities where they can walk -- not drive -- to offices and shops. And that's good for the midlife waistline. (Available for reprint.)

"I Made a Deal With God"
Family Circle October 2003

A sprained ankle changes a flight attendant's life from fledgling lawyer to Latina health activist. (Available for reprint.)

Second-Class Care
AARP Bulletin November 2003 cover story

Older Americans are routinely overtreated, undertreated, even mistreated in the health-care system. Here's why. (Available for reprint.)

A Pair's Persistence Pays Off
New York Times
"We had no money and no idea how to do this." --
Two faculty wives fight to bring a retirement community to rural New Hampshire. It took decades and $40 million.

Let A Billion Flowers Bloom
New York Times March 2004

It was last winter in Amsterdam and two gardeners from Maine were in serious need of a flower fix. We hadn't glimpsed a green shoot or delicate petal for months. The world's largest flower auction was the answer.

Stay Sharp Forever
Reader's Digest New Choices. September 2001

National Mature Media Silver Award Winner

Want to boost your brain-power? Skip the games and gimmicks that promise amazing results. Here are the real keys to staying sharp. (Available for reprint.)

Living like a Maharajah on a Budget
Los Angeles Times Travel October 2003

Get a taste of the rich life without paying a ransom in Rajasthan's former palaces and hunting lodges. (Available for reprint.)

Rhinestone Cowboys Need Not Apply
Los Angeles Times Travel May 5, 2002

(Reprinted in the San Francisco Chronicle Aug. 11, 2002)

Dude, forget the designer duds at one of Montana's most remote ranches. But bring the fly-rod. (Available for reprint.)