Florida institution helps adults work in retirement

It's no secret that a growing number of baby boomers are working in retirement and a group in Florida is beginning to take note. The  Community Foundation of Broward recently awarded around $470,000 in grants to a number groups that are committed to helping older adults find jobs and volunteer work, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

Among those that have been on the receiving end of the funds is 65-year-old Amy Barrow. She was given $1,000 as a stipend while she worked on an awards program. Although she began working part time as a means to supplement her retirement savings, she said that money is not the only motivating factor when she began looking for jobs.

"It's not only that I work for money, I need the challenge,'' she told the newspaper. "I like what I do."

This attitude is one that is prevalent among people approaching retirement age. Though there are some people who do need to stay on the job for financial reasons (a recent poll found that a quarter of boomers to not have retirement savings), many are making the choice to work because they find it fulfilling. Among them is 67-year-old Frank Armstrong, a financial planner. He does not plan on retiring in the near future.

"Why should I? I love what I do," he told the Sun-Sentinel. "It's extremely meaningful,"

Florida is an excellent place for such a program, given that is has the largest population of baby boomers in the country. Members of the generation, who were born between 1946 and 1964, make up one third of the population of South Florida. Nationwide, they number about 78 million and 10,000 turn 65 each day.

The foundation's program is a good fit for adults because volunteering and nonprofit jobs are some of the best choices for people looking to work in retirement. AARP reports that there are many opportunities available for people at charitable organizations in positions ranging from administrative assistants to marketing.

Though joining up with existing non-profits is an attractive option, many people 55 and older are taking matters into their own hands as well. According to The New York Times, the number of self-employed people between the ages of 55 and 64 has been on the rise over the last several years, and rose 52 percent between 2000 and 2007.