There is no room for doubt that in this contemporary society, there still remains a controversial topic about whether the old should continue their work or not. It seems to me that almost all sides are the same for a coin with two different facets and this is true for this essay.
On the one hand, senior citizens can do whatever they want regardless of not doing illegal action. First of all, remaining in the workforce can have positive effects on older individuals’ physical and mental health. Obviously, studies have shown that retirement not only leads to a decline in cognitive abilities but also increases risk of depression and other mental health issues. Additionally, encouraging older people to continue working can help reduce incurs on pension systems as well as other forms of support. Clearly, when the population ages and longevity increases, the Government’s finances become a concern.
On the contrary, the tendency in which retired people keep doing their jobs will lead to harmful consequences. To begin with, people argue that extending working lives misses the needs and preferences of older individuals. For example, while some people try to develop in their work, others prefer to retire to pursue travel, spend time with family or join in volunteer work. Therefore, older people who remain in the workforce against their wishes can contribute to stress, burnout and damage their quality of life. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the negative impact of keeping working on older individuals’ physical and mental health. Certainly, long work hours can harm not only age-related health problems but also contribute to exhaustion, even accidents at the workplace.
To sum up, the question of whether older people should continue working if possible is a complex issue on both sides. Also, decisions about retirement and continued work should be based on the needs and situation of older individuals.
