April 15, 2025 • 38 mins
Welcome to another episode of Aging Unfiltered. In this episode, we dive into an important topic: employment after age 55, and the unique challenges older adults face in the job market. It was a privilege to welcome Elizabeth White to the podcast to discuss this pressing issue. Elizabeth is a leading voice in the movement for economic justice and a champion for older adults navigating the complexities of work and retirement. She’s the author of 55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal and is dedicated to raising awareness around the financial struggles faced by people over 55. In this eye-opening conversation, Elizabeth shares her personal insights, research, and stories of working tirelessly to overcome ageism as a barrier to employment. Tune in for an empowering discussion about an often-overlooked aspect of aging advocacy.
Resources
55, Underemployed, and Faking Normal: Your Guide to a Better Life: White, Elizabeth
Elizabeth White: An honest look at the personal finance crisis | TED Talk
NuuAge Coliving
Elizabeth White
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:00):
...
Gretchen (00:02):
Welcome to the Age Guide Perspectives on the Aging
Journey.
I'm your host, GretchenKnowlton, and this is Aging
Unfiltered, a series where weget real about ageism, how it
shapes our world, and what wecan do about it.
Our guest today, ElizabethWhite, is an entrepreneur,
(00:23):
author, and advocate for those55 and older facing uncertain
career futures and financialinsecurity.
When she couldn't find a bookthat addressed her needs during
her own bout of long-termunemployment, Elizabeth wrote
one herself.
She is the author of 55Underemployed and Faking Normal.
(00:45):
and founder of New Age, aco-living housing solution for
older Americans navigating laterlife without traditional family
support structures.
Elizabeth has been named one ofthe top 50 influencers on aging
in the country.
Her essays and work haveappeared in national
(01:05):
publications like Barron's,Forbes, The Huffington Post, and
The Washington Post.
Her candid reflections on thepersonal financial crisis And
challenges of aging in Americahave resonated deeply with
audiences, culminating in awidely acclaimed TEDx talk
(01:26):
called An Honest Look at thePersonal Finance Crisis, which
has accumulated over 2 millionviews.
Elizabeth, we're so happy tohave you join us today.
Welcome.
Elizabeth (01:40):
No, thank you.
And I am delighted to be here.
Gretchen (01:44):
So glad to have you.
So let's start out with alittle bit of your personal
experience and some insights.
Can you share your personaljourney that led you to become
an advocate for addressingageism and underemployment for
people over 60?
Elizabeth (02:01):
So I was someone who was doing really well for a long
time.
I have a lot of the props andcredentials.
I have a Harvard MBA.
I have a master's ininternational studies from John
Hopkins.
I had worked for the World Bankfor a number of years.
Everything was going well.
And during the 2008, 2009recession, I had two big
(02:25):
consultancies that I'd had for along time.
I was making really good money.
And when the economy slowsdown, companies retrench and
often consultants would be thefirst to go.
Wasn't worried because of mybackground and I had not had
trouble finding work before, butthis time was different in my
(02:46):
mid fifties this time.
And, you know, doing all thestuff, the networking, the
coffees, you know, littleinformational interviews and
nothing was really clicking.
And as I talked to a closegroup of women friends, one was
a Emmy award-winning producer,nothing happening with her,
(03:10):
another friend who had had avery senior position in the
government, nothing happeningwith her.
And at a point of just, I waslow, I was kind of, you know,
you're just feeling despairbecause now, you're thinking
you're going to be unemployedfor a short time and weeks are
(03:30):
now turning into months.
And I was sitting on mygrandson's bed and I just wrote
in one go this essay describingwhat it's like to land here when
you thought you would never behere.
When you use banned deodorant,crest toothpaste, don't jaywalk,
(03:51):
pay your taxes, do all thestuff.
And here you are and you don'tknow if you are now a visitor
over here that you willeventually get back or are you
now a resident over here willnever recover and.
That essay went viral.
(04:13):
I sent it over kind of out ofthe blue to Next Avenue, to
Richard Eisenberg.
Gretchen (04:19):
Oh, good for you.
Elizabeth (04:20):
And he published it.
It was the first thing I hadever published.
And he reached out to me.
He said, are you seeing what'shappening with this online?
Because it had also gottenposted onto the PBS Facebook
page and thousands and thousandsof people responded.
(04:41):
Somehow, and I don't know how,they get your email address.
So in the comments section,they do two or three sentences.
In the email to you, they do apage and a half single space.
This is what happened to me.
And there was a lot of me too.
My brother, my sister, myself.
And I have the background.
(05:02):
I can look at data.
I looked at the data and Irealized then that this was not
just my small circle of friends.
This was hundreds of thousands,millions of people had landed
here.
A
Gretchen (05:18):
pervasive
Elizabeth (05:19):
issue.
And then what would happen issomeone would say, I'm going to
be in D.C.
You want to have a coffee?
And it might've been someonewho made a comment or found my
email and we had corresponded.
And then at some point,Gretchen, I had stories where I
could write a book that was notfor, it wasn't a Brookings
(05:44):
Institute tome.
It wasn't written forlegislators.
What I couldn't find was a bookthat if you landed here, you
personally, what was the play?
Not for the policy makers, butyou're here, never expected to
be here, traumatized, ashamed,embarrassed, all the stuff,
(06:08):
who's speaking to you?
So that was the book that Iwanted to write that wove in my
story, but wove in the story ofmany other people.
And then the men I asked,because the men it was, in an
odd way harder.
For men, and I'm going to sayfor white men, because ageism
(06:32):
sometimes is their first ism.
People grow up experiencingbeing a woman.
I've grown up being a Blackwoman.
I found for white men, some inthe book having become very,
very good friends of mine, theyhad never walked into a room and
(06:56):
been discounted on site becausethey're presenting as an older
person.
That was new to them.
Gretchen (07:05):
Yes.
Elizabeth (07:06):
And so I really wanted to capture their voices
in their own voice.
So they would write and then Iwould edit for length.
So then 55 underemployed, Ifirst did it, self-published it,
and then later Simon andSchuster said, we can get a
better distribution for you onthis.
(07:29):
Then I added some chapters,updated the data, and it went
out again, sort of 2019, 2020.
Gretchen (07:39):
So it was really almost like a how-to manual, a
guide, if you will, for people
Elizabeth (07:47):
a guide and I wanted to take away the shame.
I wanted to explain how thishappened to responsible people.
How this wasn't just you aresome you know, out here taking
(08:13):
risks and behaving badly, thatthere were things that
contributed to so many peoplelanding here.
And one of them really justbeing the longevity, you know,
we're talking about ageism, youknow, when we think about, I was
just writing an essay on socialsecurity.
So when you think about lifeexpectancy at birth in 1935,
(08:38):
when social security wasannounced, it was something like
62.
So back before all of theadvances in science and medicine
that have extended lifeexpectancy, you might not be in
retirement very long.
A few years, as I say, kissyour grandbabies, do a little
fishing, and then you're dead.
(09:00):
Now you could be 60 inreasonably good health and live
25 years.
That length of time you need tofund now is so much more you
were looking at you know fiveseven years sometimes three to
five years right funding 20years without working is a very
(09:23):
different um uh story and justlots of people have not set
aside a million million and ahalf dollars to do that
Gretchen (09:32):
most middle class and lower class americans simply
can't you're right so what do wedo yeah we need to work longer
Elizabeth (09:41):
Yes.
Gretchen (09:42):
Right.
Elizabeth (09:43):
We can be, if we're allowed and we're
Gretchen (09:45):
not allowed, but we can't always do that.
Yes.
Yes.
So you recognized right awaythat there was some ageism going
on, that there was somethingdifferent in this job search you
had, that something else was atplay.
You recognized the ageism andyou called it out, which is so
(10:07):
wonderful.
You identified it and then youhelped others through it.
But when you spoke out publiclyabout this challenge and about
ageism, did you face anybacklash or resistance?
Did people say, oh, no, no,you're exaggerating that?
Or where are you coming fromwith this new ism?
Elizabeth (10:24):
So I would say I didn't realize it right away.
You're sort of wondering what'shappening.
I've got these kinds ofcredentials.
It was after the essay.
And I focused more on financialvulnerability of older adults.
Where that then leads you isinto this fabulous research that
(10:50):
ProPublica and Urban Institutedid, where they looked at and
found out that half of Americansin their 50s lose their jobs.
Half.
A little more than half.
And that of that number, only10% ever again get a job that's
(11:17):
commensurate in status andincome of the job they were
pushed out of so i always saywhen i see that older diet
trader joe's or you go to thegym and there's an older woman
at the front desk she might notbe there because that's where
she wants to be
Gretchen (11:35):
right
Elizabeth (11:36):
you know so when you've got all of these people
did not suddenly becomeincompetent once they hit 50.
Something else is happening.
So as I researched this, ithelped me to understand
systemically that there wassomething happening.
(11:57):
And so you could then have aconversation with people who
have landed here and help themsee you're not, it's not because
you're just a screw up.
This is happening to a lot ofyour contemporaries.
Gretchen (12:13):
Because I mean, that happens to everyone.
I think when they're out ofwork for a little while, you
start to blame yourself.
You start to feel really downon yourself.
But I think, like you said,later career folks really
struggle with what am I doingwrong?
What what can I do differently?
But once they understand thisisn't about you, this is a
(12:33):
systemic problem, then it'sprobably easier to tackle some
of that or at least to to livewith the within the situation,
right?
We'll continue this importantconversation in just a moment.
But first, we need to take aquick break to bring you an
(12:56):
important message.
This is your call to action.
Every single day, 11,000Americans turn 65.
Our parents, our grandparents,our neighbors, ourselves.
And right now, the programsthat keep us healthy,
independent, and thriving areunder serious threat.
The Administration forCommunity Living and Older
(13:18):
Americans Act that providesservices like meals, caregiver
support, falls prevention, areon the chopping block.
$1.5 trillion in spending cuts?
That means real people couldlose lifelines.
But here's the truth.
When we speak, they have tolisten.
And we cannot stay silent.
(13:39):
Congress is moving fast.
They could vote by MemorialDay.
So we need you to stand up andtake action today.
Write your legislators.
Use AgeGuide's advocacy toolkiton our website.
Call your legislators.
Flood Washington with ourcollective power.
Share stories.
(14:00):
Real voices change minds.
This isn't just about budgets,it's about dignity.
It's about making sure ourloved ones don't go hungry,
don't lose support, don't sufferbecause of cuts.
We are the voices they can'tignore.
So let me ask you, what kind offuture do you want as you age?
(14:23):
If you believe in compassionand justice in community, then
act now.
Follow the link in the shownotes to find Age Guide's action
alerts.
Together, we are unstoppable.
Now, let's go make adifference.
Elizabeth (14:45):
And we have to tackle our own internalized ageism.
sometimes the worst ageism Iencounter is somebody about my
age.
They're the ones pulling up thedrawbridge when they see me
coming.
It's not always the youngperson.
In fact, so I'm in the worldwhere I have friends from 30,
(15:10):
yeah, over 80.
And it was a younger friend whotold me about, there's a
venture studio that you shouldapply for.
And I was 68 at the time.
I'm thinking, I don't know ifthe tech bros are gonna really
(15:31):
get me.
The tech bros, yeah.
She said, no, no, no, apply.
So they had four rounds ofinterviews.
When I was told that I had madeit from the second to the
third, I thought, let mestraighten out my tie here and
be serious.
And I was told that I got in.
(15:53):
So out of five of us, I wasalmost twice the age of
everybody else.
Gretchen (15:58):
Wow, awesome.
And
Elizabeth (16:00):
I found, as I often find, that it's not always young
people who are the ones who areageist.
We can be the worst.
offenders.
We can be the ones who excludeand don't promote and don't put
(16:25):
on a panel, etc.
Gretchen (16:27):
Yeah, or cut ourselves short, right?
Underestimate what we can do.
That is true.
And that affects us insignificant ways, right?
Isn't the research that if youhave a low esteem for your older
self that you live seven yearsless?
Elizabeth (16:45):
Yes, that is
Gretchen (16:46):
true.
That's significant.
So what about when you're inthe workforce?
How does ageism manifest in theworkplace?
What are some of the mostharmful effects that you've seen
it have on older employees?
Elizabeth (17:04):
I mean, I think the big one that I just described
where you're pushed out.
Okay, right.
People either jump beforeyou're pushed because you don't
get the opportunities.
You don't get visibility.
You're not recognized.
(17:24):
There's kind of all of that.
And you are...
as I said, jump before you'repushed.
It's just, it becomesintolerable.
Right.
And I think, you know, thereisn't, there's, there is a lot
of the conversation.
I don't know if businesses yettruly believe in the value of
(17:48):
older workers.
This is still a hill climbing.
I mean, I really, you know,wish that those that are out
front have integrated olderworkers are promoting them value
I'd love to see because they'realways going to be laggards
(18:13):
okay we can't get us on thelaggards
Gretchen (18:15):
right yes
Elizabeth (18:16):
that are the leaders
Gretchen (18:18):
I'd
Elizabeth (18:19):
love like AARP to host something where a group of
them come in and tell us whatworked and what didn't.
And then I'd also like asurvey, an anonymous survey
where employers could talkcandidly about what they're
(18:45):
struggling with and reallyafraid of with older workers.
Some of it, you'll hear all theusual stuff.
Gretchen (18:53):
Right, and some of it you could debunk, but maybe
there would be some things whereyou would say, all right, this
is something we need to talk tofolks about because they can
change that.
They can skill up or whateverit might be.
Elizabeth (19:05):
And I think it's important to, when we talk about
ageism, to also include youngerpeople.
I was interviewing someonerecently, and I was doing a
pre-interview with her, and shewas talking about how older
(19:29):
people will say to young people,it took me 10 years before I
was at blah, blah, blah.
You know, you're just trying tocut across the grass and get to
the bottom of the mine.
Do you think you can do it infour?
And she looked at me and shesaid, they can.
interesting and so that well ittook me this long and i had to
(19:51):
so we are also um stunting theadvancement of younger people
have views and stereotypes aboutthem as well so the age of
thing is not just at know ourend of the spectrum they also
encounter it and then it meansthat everybody is not able to
(20:17):
contribute what they couldeverybody who could have an
impact on a company's bottomline is getting stunted and held
back in some way
Gretchen (20:26):
you're right that's really important and when you
frame it that way that it'sabout all of us and everyone
having an opportunity it opensmore doors for later career
folks, because they're talkingabout this in terms of everybody
and everyone can relate to it.
Instead of trying to go italone and just fighting for the
(20:47):
older adults over 60 orwhatever.
Yeah.
Elizabeth (20:51):
And we're gonna have to be, the day of the one time,
one way exit into retirement isover.
Oh, interesting.
Tell me more about that.
So many people now cannotafford it.
There's the not afford part.
And there's also I'm not I'm71.
(21:12):
I'm not my grandma.
I'm not my grandmother.
Gretchen (21:15):
Yeah, you still have things you want to do.
You still have ideas and plans.
And yeah, so many
Elizabeth (21:21):
of us.
you know, thanks to advances inscience, medicine, public
health, then we are livingfitter, longer lives.
And sort of kind of getting ridof this, I think we need even
(21:42):
like just new language.
Because there's still this viewof old and frail.
Gretchen (21:50):
yes
Elizabeth (21:51):
old independent old and takers users right and um
even you know sometimes i'lllisten to one of our legislators
they'll be older than i am okayand they're talking about like
you people not even wanting to
Gretchen (22:13):
they don't want to associate themselves with that
population so
Elizabeth (22:15):
you know there is I think now boomers in particular
are becoming all elbows andknees.
You know, we did this withwomen, we did this with civil
rights, we did this with LGBTQ.
Gretchen (22:33):
We
Elizabeth (22:34):
are making our path by walking and we're not
accepting all the stereotypesbeing heaped on us.
It is all elbows and knees to,I think, change this perception
that has been sort of frozen intime and it takes a while for
(22:54):
that to sink in to business andas is often the case with
stereotypes there's always alittle bit of truth okay okay
You know, there is, I love allthe AI and I use ChatGPT and
(23:15):
Gemini and Perplexity and all ofit.
And I have a friend, it wouldso help her.
And she's just like, no, I'mnot gonna use it.
And I see her, you know,working things that I said, by
the time you download thatdocument, it will take you
longer to download it than forchat to do what you need it to
(23:37):
do.
She's just no.
So I think that view sometimesthat we won't adopt new
technology, but it's noteverybody.
Gretchen (23:48):
It's not everybody, right.
So people will take a smallexample like your friend and
say, well, that's all olders.
They're all doing that.
Unknown (23:58):
Yes.
Gretchen (23:58):
But it's not true.
People like you are embracingit.
You're using it all the time.
That's true with a lot ofthings, like you said, with
those negative stereotypes.
So how do we turn that aroundand turn it into something more
positive?
I know a lot of people talkabout the wisdom of older people
and how much we can benefitfrom that.
(24:19):
And there's research on thebenefits of intergenerational.
You can't haveintergenerational if you're
negating some parts of thepopulation, right?
And that's very valuable.
What else can we do to kind ofshift this perspective, do you
think, Elizabeth?
Elizabeth (24:33):
Well, so I often think that there's a role for
everybody in the sense that youhave to look at in this, which
is really revolutionary.
This is a huge, I think thewhole longevity aging arena is
(25:02):
right up there with climatechange as a grand challenge.
So it is going to take whereeach of us with our talent,
network, resources, wisdom, whatis the role we're gonna play?
And I think we have someguidebooks.
(25:25):
So we now know, even in thisclimate, which this climate is a
lot of things shifting, But weknow, and until very recently,
no one would put forward a slateof candidates that was all
white men.
They would, someone would callthem out on the, it's kind of
(25:51):
like I say to people, do youwant an orchestra of all
trombone players?
No, you don't.
Gretchen (25:56):
No, you need some different perspective.
You need to mix it up a littlebit, yes.
Elizabeth (26:01):
So, you know, the...
what we did with women when westarted making sure that on any
slate of candidates women wereconsidered if someone if we were
looking at keynote speakers ifwe were looking at panels if we
were looking for who to advanceit got to the point that if
there was no woman on the slatewe were considering someone was
(26:25):
going to say something and ithink in the same that same
muscle when you start to see allthe candidates are 40 and under
Gretchen (26:34):
right yes
Elizabeth (26:36):
there is the ability to speak up so it is a muscle i
think that we're going to haveto continue to develop because
it's not there and as i saidsome of us are the worst
offenders
Gretchen (26:50):
right
Elizabeth (26:51):
and there's also i when i was saying that i would
love to see the companies thatare doing well here Columbia
used to even have some awardsthey would give to New York
companies that had excelled on,you know, embracing older
workers.
And they had, you know,criteria that they looked at.
(27:12):
Because I think the ones thatare leaders can teach the rest
of us.
And those are the ones thathave the policy where you can
work part-time, they havementoring programs, they're
looking at the technology thatif someone has a repetitive
(27:34):
task, that that technologyallows them to not wear out the
muscle in their arm.
Okay, right.
Or the, you know, we've allheard of the CVS program that
where they, the people are goingto Florida for the winter and
they needed some pharmacist.
(27:55):
So they had more customers inFlorida during those winter
months.
So they had a special programwhere you could be a pharmacist
with CVS working there.
So what are the otherinnovative programs that we
could hear about?
And I think we also need tohear about the failures.
(28:18):
What did they try that didn'twork?
What didn't work?
So that this becomes part ofthe conversation and people, the
companies that are kind of morehanging back on this, hear from
(28:39):
companies that have done reallywell with it.
Gretchen (28:41):
and hear about the benefits that they experienced.
And they wouldn't need toreinvent all of these ideas.
Like you said, they can learnfrom the challenges.
Don't even bother trying that.
That didn't work, but here'swhat did work.
That would really be helpful, Ithink.
And probably some policychanges as well.
I mean, who knows what's goingto happen with Social Security
(29:03):
now?
Like you said, everything is upin the air right now.
We're all advocating reallyhard to protect Social Security,
but it does need protecting.
And it's time for all of us tospeak up about that because
we've all paid into that and weall deserve to have that waiting
for us.
Right.
So I'm assuming there's otherpolicy things, too, that you can
(29:24):
think of that might help at amacro level.
Elizabeth (29:27):
And I want to say this also about Social Security.
I've just written an essay, andit's about the impact of Social
Security on millennials.
Oh, very good.
Because I think the, you know,for some people, Social Security
is just a pesky little boomerproblem, okay?
Gretchen (29:47):
Right, because I don't think the millennials thought
that it was going to be aroundfor them anyway, right?
There's kind of this narrativeout there.
It's not going to be there forus anyway, so why should we
care?
Elizabeth (29:56):
So here's the other reason to care.
I asked ChatGPT.
Gretchen (30:04):
Your friend.
Elizabeth (30:05):
And
Gretchen (30:06):
mine.
Elizabeth (30:07):
Personal assistance.
Yes.
I said, if Social Security iscut in the next 30 to 90 days,
as has been warned could happen,what happens a year from now?
What happens?
And they were all consistent.
they all said, so suddenly,because you've got 50% of the
(30:31):
people relying on socialsecurity for half or more of
their retirement income.
You pull that out, suddenly nowas a millennial, your mom is
going off the rails.
So you were thinking of movingto New York for a job, but now
you're going to stay in whereveryou are where she is.
Gretchen (30:53):
And maybe you have to cut down your work hours to do
some caregiving.
Elizabeth (30:57):
Cut down your work hours.
You're now, you've got youngkids and your parents that
you're worried about.
You've got, so it just sort oflaid out all the cascading
effect of having millions andmillions of older adults who
could hold it together withmaybe a little help, suddenly
(31:19):
having the rug pulled fromunderneath them.
So whatever relationship onemay have with their parents,
they don't want to see them goover the financial cliff.
So when you...
think about Social Security,it's not just going to impact
these older people.
It's all the younger people whocare about these older people
(31:44):
having to now alter their livesin dramatic ways.
Mom has to move in.
You have to move in with her.
You've got to, you know, and itjust, it went on and on and on.
So I picked out like 10 pointsand they were all consistent.
No one had, it was grim.
So I said the conversationwe're not having, we say, oh
(32:08):
yeah, millennials don't think itwill be.
We don't say if you cut it forthis group over here, they all
have kids.
Gretchen (32:18):
Yes, it impacts everybody
Elizabeth (32:20):
wrecking ball through the family.
So because my interest inwriting it is that this piece is
that the point you made, we allneed to be enrolled in the
preservation of Social Securitynow.
Gretchen (32:42):
Yes.
Yeah, so where is this articlegoing to
Elizabeth (32:46):
appear?
Where can we find it?
I am sending it around now to,you know, the way you got to
send it, then you got to wait.
Okay.
What as a writer you want to dois send it to everybody and
like, see who
Gretchen (32:59):
right see who jumps but you have to do one at a time
so they can have exclusiverights okay so you're waiting to
see who's gonna pick it up andpublish well please let us know
and we'll add it to the shownotes when we air this podcast
because i'm sure folks wouldlove to check that out as well
as your book you have a copy ofyour book with you
Elizabeth (33:15):
this is the book 55 underemployed and faking normal
Gretchen (33:21):
such a great title i love it your guide to a better
retirement life yes Thank youfor sharing with us your
thoughts on all of these things.
Do you have any partingcomments or thoughts you'd like
to share?
Elizabeth (33:35):
One of the things, and I don't know kind of who to
talk to about this, when I seeall these federal workers being
cut,
Gretchen (33:46):
I was
Elizabeth (33:47):
surprised to learn that some 42% of them are over
50.
these a lot of them are olderworkers and i know these
departments of employmentservices are working with them
on unemployment on you knowfinding new jobs i'm wondering
(34:10):
if they're working with them onthe upset turmoil and trauma
Gretchen (34:18):
the emotional side of it
Elizabeth (34:20):
yes and i would like to work with an agency on
developing some curriculum aworkshop that complements what
they're doing on that practicalget another job this is what you
do i work with them you knowusing my book and some other
(34:44):
resources on the whirlwind oflanding here that is so
important to kind of how youeven show up for a job
interview.
If that part is not there, Ithink the other parts aren't as
effective as they could be.
(35:05):
So whoever's out there who isover an agency or having to deal
with many many more peopleapplying for unemployment and
you can even see it in who'scoming in that there's some
shell-shocked people i'd loveyou on some programming for them
Gretchen (35:30):
That's exciting.
That is a great idea that youhave.
Elizabeth, you just keep comingup with new things.
I can't wait to see what yournext chapter on your journey is
going to be like, because Ithink that's a great idea.
And we're at this moment inhistory where things are so
bleak and so dark that when weget a spark of an idea like
(35:52):
that, it really...
is important that we look tosee how we can be that change
agent.
And I'm so glad you had thatidea.
But yeah, there are people outthere doing good things, but we
need to connect it to thatemotional piece too.
I think you have kind of aniche area there where you
(36:12):
recognize that like you said,people are shell shocked.
They have no idea how tonavigate this new space that
they find themselves in becauseit hasn't happened to them
before.
And they were getting close to,you know, their last chapter of
their career and maybe had somethings they still wanted to do.
And it just really pulls therug out of you when you're at
that phase.
So addressing that emotionalside of it and getting your
(36:37):
attitude in a place where youcan go look for a job, like you
said, that's so important andimpactful.
So I'm excited that you'reYou're ready to roll up your
sleeves and create somecurriculum.
Thank you so much for joiningus on this podcast and having
this important conversation.
And we'll have information inthe show notes of how people can
find you and find your book.
(36:57):
Thank you so
Elizabeth (36:59):
much.
Val (37:07):
Hello and welcome to your Medicare Minutes.
My name is Val Guzman and I'mthe Benefit Access Specialist
here at Age Guide.
The State of Illinois SeniorHealth Insurance Assistance
Program, also known as SHIP,provides free, unbiased Medicare
counseling for Medicarebeneficiaries and their loved
ones.
SHIP counselors are availablelocally to answer questions and
(37:30):
to be a resource for you withoutany sales pitches.
The Medicare website,Medicare.gov, is a good place to
do your own research and learnmore about the various types of
Medicare plans.
You can get connected with aSHIP counselor on our Medicare
Assistance page at ageguide.org,or you can call us at
(37:51):
1-800-528-2000.
Gretchen (37:59):
Thank you for listening to The Age Guide,
Perspectives on the AgingJourney.
Age Guide coordinates andadministers many services for
older adults in NortheasternIllinois.
Our specially trainedprofessionals are available to
answer questions and connect youwith local service providers
and resources.
If you are interested in theseservices or want to learn more,
(38:22):
go to our website atageguide.org or call our offices
at 630-293-5990.
Please follow our podcast soyou can be notified in your
streaming account.
Thank you and we will see younext time on The Age Guide.
Guide podcast.
...
Gretchen (00:02):
Welcome to the Age Guide Perspectives on the Aging
Journey.
I'm your host, GretchenKnowlton, and this is Aging
Unfiltered, a series where weget real about ageism, how it
shapes our world, and what wecan do about it.
Our guest today, ElizabethWhite, is an entrepreneur,
(00:23):
author, and advocate for those55 and older facing uncertain
career futures and financialinsecurity.
When she couldn't find a bookthat addressed her needs during
her own bout of long-termunemployment, Elizabeth wrote
one herself.
She is the author of 55Underemployed and Faking Normal.
(00:45):
and founder of New Age, aco-living housing solution for
older Americans navigating laterlife without traditional family
support structures.
Elizabeth has been named one ofthe top 50 influencers on aging
in the country.
Her essays and work haveappeared in national
(01:05):
publications like Barron's,Forbes, The Huffington Post, and
The Washington Post.
Her candid reflections on thepersonal financial crisis And
challenges of aging in Americahave resonated deeply with
audiences, culminating in awidely acclaimed TEDx talk
(01:26):
called An Honest Look at thePersonal Finance Crisis, which
has accumulated over 2 millionviews.
Elizabeth, we're so happy tohave you join us today.
Welcome.
Elizabeth (01:40):
No, thank you.
And I am delighted to be here.
Gretchen (01:44):
So glad to have you.
So let's start out with alittle bit of your personal
experience and some insights.
Can you share your personaljourney that led you to become
an advocate for addressingageism and underemployment for
people over 60?
Elizabeth (02:01):
So I was someone who was doing really well for a long
time.
I have a lot of the props andcredentials.
I have a Harvard MBA.
I have a master's ininternational studies from John
Hopkins.
I had worked for the World Bankfor a number of years.
Everything was going well.
And during the 2008, 2009recession, I had two big
(02:25):
consultancies that I'd had for along time.
I was making really good money.
And when the economy slowsdown, companies retrench and
often consultants would be thefirst to go.
Wasn't worried because of mybackground and I had not had
trouble finding work before, butthis time was different in my
(02:46):
mid fifties this time.
And, you know, doing all thestuff, the networking, the
coffees, you know, littleinformational interviews and
nothing was really clicking.
And as I talked to a closegroup of women friends, one was
a Emmy award-winning producer,nothing happening with her,
(03:10):
another friend who had had avery senior position in the
government, nothing happeningwith her.
And at a point of just, I waslow, I was kind of, you know,
you're just feeling despairbecause now, you're thinking
you're going to be unemployedfor a short time and weeks are
(03:30):
now turning into months.
And I was sitting on mygrandson's bed and I just wrote
in one go this essay describingwhat it's like to land here when
you thought you would never behere.
When you use banned deodorant,crest toothpaste, don't jaywalk,
(03:51):
pay your taxes, do all thestuff.
And here you are and you don'tknow if you are now a visitor
over here that you willeventually get back or are you
now a resident over here willnever recover and.
That essay went viral.
(04:13):
I sent it over kind of out ofthe blue to Next Avenue, to
Richard Eisenberg.
Gretchen (04:19):
Oh, good for you.
Elizabeth (04:20):
And he published it.
It was the first thing I hadever published.
And he reached out to me.
He said, are you seeing what'shappening with this online?
Because it had also gottenposted onto the PBS Facebook
page and thousands and thousandsof people responded.
(04:41):
Somehow, and I don't know how,they get your email address.
So in the comments section,they do two or three sentences.
In the email to you, they do apage and a half single space.
This is what happened to me.
And there was a lot of me too.
My brother, my sister, myself.
And I have the background.
(05:02):
I can look at data.
I looked at the data and Irealized then that this was not
just my small circle of friends.
This was hundreds of thousands,millions of people had landed
here.
A
Gretchen (05:18):
pervasive
Elizabeth (05:19):
issue.
And then what would happen issomeone would say, I'm going to
be in D.C.
You want to have a coffee?
And it might've been someonewho made a comment or found my
email and we had corresponded.
And then at some point,Gretchen, I had stories where I
could write a book that was notfor, it wasn't a Brookings
(05:44):
Institute tome.
It wasn't written forlegislators.
What I couldn't find was a bookthat if you landed here, you
personally, what was the play?
Not for the policy makers, butyou're here, never expected to
be here, traumatized, ashamed,embarrassed, all the stuff,
(06:08):
who's speaking to you?
So that was the book that Iwanted to write that wove in my
story, but wove in the story ofmany other people.
And then the men I asked,because the men it was, in an
odd way harder.
For men, and I'm going to sayfor white men, because ageism
(06:32):
sometimes is their first ism.
People grow up experiencingbeing a woman.
I've grown up being a Blackwoman.
I found for white men, some inthe book having become very,
very good friends of mine, theyhad never walked into a room and
(06:56):
been discounted on site becausethey're presenting as an older
person.
That was new to them.
Gretchen (07:05):
Yes.
Elizabeth (07:06):
And so I really wanted to capture their voices
in their own voice.
So they would write and then Iwould edit for length.
So then 55 underemployed, Ifirst did it, self-published it,
and then later Simon andSchuster said, we can get a
better distribution for you onthis.
(07:29):
Then I added some chapters,updated the data, and it went
out again, sort of 2019, 2020.
Gretchen (07:39):
So it was really almost like a how-to manual, a
guide, if you will, for people
Elizabeth (07:47):
a guide and I wanted to take away the shame.
I wanted to explain how thishappened to responsible people.
How this wasn't just you aresome you know, out here taking
(08:13):
risks and behaving badly, thatthere were things that
contributed to so many peoplelanding here.
And one of them really justbeing the longevity, you know,
we're talking about ageism, youknow, when we think about, I was
just writing an essay on socialsecurity.
So when you think about lifeexpectancy at birth in 1935,
(08:38):
when social security wasannounced, it was something like
62.
So back before all of theadvances in science and medicine
that have extended lifeexpectancy, you might not be in
retirement very long.
A few years, as I say, kissyour grandbabies, do a little
fishing, and then you're dead.
(09:00):
Now you could be 60 inreasonably good health and live
25 years.
That length of time you need tofund now is so much more you
were looking at you know fiveseven years sometimes three to
five years right funding 20years without working is a very
(09:23):
different um uh story and justlots of people have not set
aside a million million and ahalf dollars to do that
Gretchen (09:32):
most middle class and lower class americans simply
can't you're right so what do wedo yeah we need to work longer
Elizabeth (09:41):
Yes.
Gretchen (09:42):
Right.
Elizabeth (09:43):
We can be, if we're allowed and we're
Gretchen (09:45):
not allowed, but we can't always do that.
Yes.
Yes.
So you recognized right awaythat there was some ageism going
on, that there was somethingdifferent in this job search you
had, that something else was atplay.
You recognized the ageism andyou called it out, which is so
(10:07):
wonderful.
You identified it and then youhelped others through it.
But when you spoke out publiclyabout this challenge and about
ageism, did you face anybacklash or resistance?
Did people say, oh, no, no,you're exaggerating that?
Or where are you coming fromwith this new ism?
Elizabeth (10:24):
So I would say I didn't realize it right away.
You're sort of wondering what'shappening.
I've got these kinds ofcredentials.
It was after the essay.
And I focused more on financialvulnerability of older adults.
Where that then leads you isinto this fabulous research that
(10:50):
ProPublica and Urban Institutedid, where they looked at and
found out that half of Americansin their 50s lose their jobs.
Half.
A little more than half.
And that of that number, only10% ever again get a job that's
(11:17):
commensurate in status andincome of the job they were
pushed out of so i always saywhen i see that older diet
trader joe's or you go to thegym and there's an older woman
at the front desk she might notbe there because that's where
she wants to be
Gretchen (11:35):
right
Elizabeth (11:36):
you know so when you've got all of these people
did not suddenly becomeincompetent once they hit 50.
Something else is happening.
So as I researched this, ithelped me to understand
systemically that there wassomething happening.
(11:57):
And so you could then have aconversation with people who
have landed here and help themsee you're not, it's not because
you're just a screw up.
This is happening to a lot ofyour contemporaries.
Gretchen (12:13):
Because I mean, that happens to everyone.
I think when they're out ofwork for a little while, you
start to blame yourself.
You start to feel really downon yourself.
But I think, like you said,later career folks really
struggle with what am I doingwrong?
What what can I do differently?
But once they understand thisisn't about you, this is a
(12:33):
systemic problem, then it'sprobably easier to tackle some
of that or at least to to livewith the within the situation,
right?
We'll continue this importantconversation in just a moment.
But first, we need to take aquick break to bring you an
(12:56):
important message.
This is your call to action.
Every single day, 11,000Americans turn 65.
Our parents, our grandparents,our neighbors, ourselves.
And right now, the programsthat keep us healthy,
independent, and thriving areunder serious threat.
The Administration forCommunity Living and Older
(13:18):
Americans Act that providesservices like meals, caregiver
support, falls prevention, areon the chopping block.
$1.5 trillion in spending cuts?
That means real people couldlose lifelines.
But here's the truth.
When we speak, they have tolisten.
And we cannot stay silent.
(13:39):
Congress is moving fast.
They could vote by MemorialDay.
So we need you to stand up andtake action today.
Write your legislators.
Use AgeGuide's advocacy toolkiton our website.
Call your legislators.
Flood Washington with ourcollective power.
Share stories.
(14:00):
Real voices change minds.
This isn't just about budgets,it's about dignity.
It's about making sure ourloved ones don't go hungry,
don't lose support, don't sufferbecause of cuts.
We are the voices they can'tignore.
So let me ask you, what kind offuture do you want as you age?
(14:23):
If you believe in compassionand justice in community, then
act now.
Follow the link in the shownotes to find Age Guide's action
alerts.
Together, we are unstoppable.
Now, let's go make adifference.
Elizabeth (14:45):
And we have to tackle our own internalized ageism.
sometimes the worst ageism Iencounter is somebody about my
age.
They're the ones pulling up thedrawbridge when they see me
coming.
It's not always the youngperson.
In fact, so I'm in the worldwhere I have friends from 30,
(15:10):
yeah, over 80.
And it was a younger friend whotold me about, there's a
venture studio that you shouldapply for.
And I was 68 at the time.
I'm thinking, I don't know ifthe tech bros are gonna really
(15:31):
get me.
The tech bros, yeah.
She said, no, no, no, apply.
So they had four rounds ofinterviews.
When I was told that I had madeit from the second to the
third, I thought, let mestraighten out my tie here and
be serious.
And I was told that I got in.
(15:53):
So out of five of us, I wasalmost twice the age of
everybody else.
Gretchen (15:58):
Wow, awesome.
And
Elizabeth (16:00):
I found, as I often find, that it's not always young
people who are the ones who areageist.
We can be the worst.
offenders.
We can be the ones who excludeand don't promote and don't put
(16:25):
on a panel, etc.
Gretchen (16:27):
Yeah, or cut ourselves short, right?
Underestimate what we can do.
That is true.
And that affects us insignificant ways, right?
Isn't the research that if youhave a low esteem for your older
self that you live seven yearsless?
Elizabeth (16:45):
Yes, that is
Gretchen (16:46):
true.
That's significant.
So what about when you're inthe workforce?
How does ageism manifest in theworkplace?
What are some of the mostharmful effects that you've seen
it have on older employees?
Elizabeth (17:04):
I mean, I think the big one that I just described
where you're pushed out.
Okay, right.
People either jump beforeyou're pushed because you don't
get the opportunities.
You don't get visibility.
You're not recognized.
(17:24):
There's kind of all of that.
And you are...
as I said, jump before you'repushed.
It's just, it becomesintolerable.
Right.
And I think, you know, thereisn't, there's, there is a lot
of the conversation.
I don't know if businesses yettruly believe in the value of
(17:48):
older workers.
This is still a hill climbing.
I mean, I really, you know,wish that those that are out
front have integrated olderworkers are promoting them value
I'd love to see because they'realways going to be laggards
(18:13):
okay we can't get us on thelaggards
Gretchen (18:15):
right yes
Elizabeth (18:16):
that are the leaders
Gretchen (18:18):
I'd
Elizabeth (18:19):
love like AARP to host something where a group of
them come in and tell us whatworked and what didn't.
And then I'd also like asurvey, an anonymous survey
where employers could talkcandidly about what they're
(18:45):
struggling with and reallyafraid of with older workers.
Some of it, you'll hear all theusual stuff.
Gretchen (18:53):
Right, and some of it you could debunk, but maybe
there would be some things whereyou would say, all right, this
is something we need to talk tofolks about because they can
change that.
They can skill up or whateverit might be.
Elizabeth (19:05):
And I think it's important to, when we talk about
ageism, to also include youngerpeople.
I was interviewing someonerecently, and I was doing a
pre-interview with her, and shewas talking about how older
(19:29):
people will say to young people,it took me 10 years before I
was at blah, blah, blah.
You know, you're just trying tocut across the grass and get to
the bottom of the mine.
Do you think you can do it infour?
And she looked at me and shesaid, they can.
interesting and so that well ittook me this long and i had to
(19:51):
so we are also um stunting theadvancement of younger people
have views and stereotypes aboutthem as well so the age of
thing is not just at know ourend of the spectrum they also
encounter it and then it meansthat everybody is not able to
(20:17):
contribute what they couldeverybody who could have an
impact on a company's bottomline is getting stunted and held
back in some way
Gretchen (20:26):
you're right that's really important and when you
frame it that way that it'sabout all of us and everyone
having an opportunity it opensmore doors for later career
folks, because they're talkingabout this in terms of everybody
and everyone can relate to it.
Instead of trying to go italone and just fighting for the
(20:47):
older adults over 60 orwhatever.
Yeah.
Elizabeth (20:51):
And we're gonna have to be, the day of the one time,
one way exit into retirement isover.
Oh, interesting.
Tell me more about that.
So many people now cannotafford it.
There's the not afford part.
And there's also I'm not I'm71.
(21:12):
I'm not my grandma.
I'm not my grandmother.
Gretchen (21:15):
Yeah, you still have things you want to do.
You still have ideas and plans.
And yeah, so many
Elizabeth (21:21):
of us.
you know, thanks to advances inscience, medicine, public
health, then we are livingfitter, longer lives.
And sort of kind of getting ridof this, I think we need even
(21:42):
like just new language.
Because there's still this viewof old and frail.
Gretchen (21:50):
yes
Elizabeth (21:51):
old independent old and takers users right and um
even you know sometimes i'lllisten to one of our legislators
they'll be older than i am okayand they're talking about like
you people not even wanting to
Gretchen (22:13):
they don't want to associate themselves with that
population so
Elizabeth (22:15):
you know there is I think now boomers in particular
are becoming all elbows andknees.
You know, we did this withwomen, we did this with civil
rights, we did this with LGBTQ.
Gretchen (22:33):
We
Elizabeth (22:34):
are making our path by walking and we're not
accepting all the stereotypesbeing heaped on us.
It is all elbows and knees to,I think, change this perception
that has been sort of frozen intime and it takes a while for
(22:54):
that to sink in to business andas is often the case with
stereotypes there's always alittle bit of truth okay okay
You know, there is, I love allthe AI and I use ChatGPT and
(23:15):
Gemini and Perplexity and all ofit.
And I have a friend, it wouldso help her.
And she's just like, no, I'mnot gonna use it.
And I see her, you know,working things that I said, by
the time you download thatdocument, it will take you
longer to download it than forchat to do what you need it to
(23:37):
do.
She's just no.
So I think that view sometimesthat we won't adopt new
technology, but it's noteverybody.
Gretchen (23:48):
It's not everybody, right.
So people will take a smallexample like your friend and
say, well, that's all olders.
They're all doing that.
Unknown (23:58):
Yes.
Gretchen (23:58):
But it's not true.
People like you are embracingit.
You're using it all the time.
That's true with a lot ofthings, like you said, with
those negative stereotypes.
So how do we turn that aroundand turn it into something more
positive?
I know a lot of people talkabout the wisdom of older people
and how much we can benefitfrom that.
(24:19):
And there's research on thebenefits of intergenerational.
You can't haveintergenerational if you're
negating some parts of thepopulation, right?
And that's very valuable.
What else can we do to kind ofshift this perspective, do you
think, Elizabeth?
Elizabeth (24:33):
Well, so I often think that there's a role for
everybody in the sense that youhave to look at in this, which
is really revolutionary.
This is a huge, I think thewhole longevity aging arena is
(25:02):
right up there with climatechange as a grand challenge.
So it is going to take whereeach of us with our talent,
network, resources, wisdom, whatis the role we're gonna play?
And I think we have someguidebooks.
(25:25):
So we now know, even in thisclimate, which this climate is a
lot of things shifting, But weknow, and until very recently,
no one would put forward a slateof candidates that was all
white men.
They would, someone would callthem out on the, it's kind of
(25:51):
like I say to people, do youwant an orchestra of all
trombone players?
No, you don't.
Gretchen (25:56):
No, you need some different perspective.
You need to mix it up a littlebit, yes.
Elizabeth (26:01):
So, you know, the...
what we did with women when westarted making sure that on any
slate of candidates women wereconsidered if someone if we were
looking at keynote speakers ifwe were looking at panels if we
were looking for who to advanceit got to the point that if
there was no woman on the slatewe were considering someone was
(26:25):
going to say something and ithink in the same that same
muscle when you start to see allthe candidates are 40 and under
Gretchen (26:34):
right yes
Elizabeth (26:36):
there is the ability to speak up so it is a muscle i
think that we're going to haveto continue to develop because
it's not there and as i saidsome of us are the worst
offenders
Gretchen (26:50):
right
Elizabeth (26:51):
and there's also i when i was saying that i would
love to see the companies thatare doing well here Columbia
used to even have some awardsthey would give to New York
companies that had excelled on,you know, embracing older
workers.
And they had, you know,criteria that they looked at.
(27:12):
Because I think the ones thatare leaders can teach the rest
of us.
And those are the ones thathave the policy where you can
work part-time, they havementoring programs, they're
looking at the technology thatif someone has a repetitive
(27:34):
task, that that technologyallows them to not wear out the
muscle in their arm.
Okay, right.
Or the, you know, we've allheard of the CVS program that
where they, the people are goingto Florida for the winter and
they needed some pharmacist.
(27:55):
So they had more customers inFlorida during those winter
months.
So they had a special programwhere you could be a pharmacist
with CVS working there.
So what are the otherinnovative programs that we
could hear about?
And I think we also need tohear about the failures.
(28:18):
What did they try that didn'twork?
What didn't work?
So that this becomes part ofthe conversation and people, the
companies that are kind of morehanging back on this, hear from
(28:39):
companies that have done reallywell with it.
Gretchen (28:41):
and hear about the benefits that they experienced.
And they wouldn't need toreinvent all of these ideas.
Like you said, they can learnfrom the challenges.
Don't even bother trying that.
That didn't work, but here'swhat did work.
That would really be helpful, Ithink.
And probably some policychanges as well.
I mean, who knows what's goingto happen with Social Security
(29:03):
now?
Like you said, everything is upin the air right now.
We're all advocating reallyhard to protect Social Security,
but it does need protecting.
And it's time for all of us tospeak up about that because
we've all paid into that and weall deserve to have that waiting
for us.
Right.
So I'm assuming there's otherpolicy things, too, that you can
(29:24):
think of that might help at amacro level.
Elizabeth (29:27):
And I want to say this also about Social Security.
I've just written an essay, andit's about the impact of Social
Security on millennials.
Oh, very good.
Because I think the, you know,for some people, Social Security
is just a pesky little boomerproblem, okay?
Gretchen (29:47):
Right, because I don't think the millennials thought
that it was going to be aroundfor them anyway, right?
There's kind of this narrativeout there.
It's not going to be there forus anyway, so why should we
care?
Elizabeth (29:56):
So here's the other reason to care.
I asked ChatGPT.
Gretchen (30:04):
Your friend.
Elizabeth (30:05):
And
Gretchen (30:06):
mine.
Elizabeth (30:07):
Personal assistance.
Yes.
I said, if Social Security iscut in the next 30 to 90 days,
as has been warned could happen,what happens a year from now?
What happens?
And they were all consistent.
they all said, so suddenly,because you've got 50% of the
(30:31):
people relying on socialsecurity for half or more of
their retirement income.
You pull that out, suddenly nowas a millennial, your mom is
going off the rails.
So you were thinking of movingto New York for a job, but now
you're going to stay in whereveryou are where she is.
Gretchen (30:53):
And maybe you have to cut down your work hours to do
some caregiving.
Elizabeth (30:57):
Cut down your work hours.
You're now, you've got youngkids and your parents that
you're worried about.
You've got, so it just sort oflaid out all the cascading
effect of having millions andmillions of older adults who
could hold it together withmaybe a little help, suddenly
(31:19):
having the rug pulled fromunderneath them.
So whatever relationship onemay have with their parents,
they don't want to see them goover the financial cliff.
So when you...
think about Social Security,it's not just going to impact
these older people.
It's all the younger people whocare about these older people
(31:44):
having to now alter their livesin dramatic ways.
Mom has to move in.
You have to move in with her.
You've got to, you know, and itjust, it went on and on and on.
So I picked out like 10 pointsand they were all consistent.
No one had, it was grim.
So I said the conversationwe're not having, we say, oh
(32:08):
yeah, millennials don't think itwill be.
We don't say if you cut it forthis group over here, they all
have kids.
Gretchen (32:18):
Yes, it impacts everybody
Elizabeth (32:20):
wrecking ball through the family.
So because my interest inwriting it is that this piece is
that the point you made, we allneed to be enrolled in the
preservation of Social Securitynow.
Gretchen (32:42):
Yes.
Yeah, so where is this articlegoing to
Elizabeth (32:46):
appear?
Where can we find it?
I am sending it around now to,you know, the way you got to
send it, then you got to wait.
Okay.
What as a writer you want to dois send it to everybody and
like, see who
Gretchen (32:59):
right see who jumps but you have to do one at a time
so they can have exclusiverights okay so you're waiting to
see who's gonna pick it up andpublish well please let us know
and we'll add it to the shownotes when we air this podcast
because i'm sure folks wouldlove to check that out as well
as your book you have a copy ofyour book with you
Elizabeth (33:15):
this is the book 55 underemployed and faking normal
Gretchen (33:21):
such a great title i love it your guide to a better
retirement life yes Thank youfor sharing with us your
thoughts on all of these things.
Do you have any partingcomments or thoughts you'd like
to share?
Elizabeth (33:35):
One of the things, and I don't know kind of who to
talk to about this, when I seeall these federal workers being
cut,
Gretchen (33:46):
I was
Elizabeth (33:47):
surprised to learn that some 42% of them are over
50.
these a lot of them are olderworkers and i know these
departments of employmentservices are working with them
on unemployment on you knowfinding new jobs i'm wondering
(34:10):
if they're working with them onthe upset turmoil and trauma
Gretchen (34:18):
the emotional side of it
Elizabeth (34:20):
yes and i would like to work with an agency on
developing some curriculum aworkshop that complements what
they're doing on that practicalget another job this is what you
do i work with them you knowusing my book and some other
(34:44):
resources on the whirlwind oflanding here that is so
important to kind of how youeven show up for a job
interview.
If that part is not there, Ithink the other parts aren't as
effective as they could be.
(35:05):
So whoever's out there who isover an agency or having to deal
with many many more peopleapplying for unemployment and
you can even see it in who'scoming in that there's some
shell-shocked people i'd loveyou on some programming for them
Gretchen (35:30):
That's exciting.
That is a great idea that youhave.
Elizabeth, you just keep comingup with new things.
I can't wait to see what yournext chapter on your journey is
going to be like, because Ithink that's a great idea.
And we're at this moment inhistory where things are so
bleak and so dark that when weget a spark of an idea like
(35:52):
that, it really...
is important that we look tosee how we can be that change
agent.
And I'm so glad you had thatidea.
But yeah, there are people outthere doing good things, but we
need to connect it to thatemotional piece too.
I think you have kind of aniche area there where you
(36:12):
recognize that like you said,people are shell shocked.
They have no idea how tonavigate this new space that
they find themselves in becauseit hasn't happened to them
before.
And they were getting close to,you know, their last chapter of
their career and maybe had somethings they still wanted to do.
And it just really pulls therug out of you when you're at
that phase.
So addressing that emotionalside of it and getting your
(36:37):
attitude in a place where youcan go look for a job, like you
said, that's so important andimpactful.
So I'm excited that you'reYou're ready to roll up your
sleeves and create somecurriculum.
Thank you so much for joiningus on this podcast and having
this important conversation.
And we'll have information inthe show notes of how people can
find you and find your book.
(36:57):
Thank you so
Elizabeth (36:59):
much.
Val (37:07):
Hello and welcome to your Medicare Minutes.
My name is Val Guzman and I'mthe Benefit Access Specialist
here at Age Guide.
The State of Illinois SeniorHealth Insurance Assistance
Program, also known as SHIP,provides free, unbiased Medicare
counseling for Medicarebeneficiaries and their loved
ones.
SHIP counselors are availablelocally to answer questions and
(37:30):
to be a resource for you withoutany sales pitches.
The Medicare website,Medicare.gov, is a good place to
do your own research and learnmore about the various types of
Medicare plans.
You can get connected with aSHIP counselor on our Medicare
Assistance page at ageguide.org,or you can call us at
(37:51):
1-800-528-2000.
Gretchen (37:59):
Thank you for listening to The Age Guide,
Perspectives on the AgingJourney.
Age Guide coordinates andadministers many services for
older adults in NortheasternIllinois.
Our specially trainedprofessionals are available to
answer questions and connect youwith local service providers
and resources.
If you are interested in theseservices or want to learn more,
(38:22):
go to our website atageguide.org or call our offices
at 630-293-5990.
Please follow our podcast soyou can be notified in your
streaming account.
Thank you and we will see younext time on The Age Guide.
Guide podcast.
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