As Trump turns 80, what's it really like to work as an octogenarian?

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. As Trump turns 80, what's it really like to work as an octogenarian? 1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleMadeline HalpertSubmitted photoArthur Rose says people are often shocked to learn he's 95In February, Arthur Rose stepped into his office as an internist doctor for the last time after practising medicine for over 65 years. His retirement was a birthday gift to himself on his 95th birthday, partially inspired by his brother who passed away at 95 during the Covid pandemic.

"The job was really not pleasing me anymore," he said. "I just wasn't getting that same kind of exhilaration. "Rose, a Michigan native, is part of a growing population of Americans who are working well past the typical age of retirement, which in the US is 67.

The Details

Chief among them is President Donald Trump who is turning 80 on Sunday, making him the second oldest leader of the US behind Joe Biden, who left office aged 82. Trump is also one of the oldest world leaders, according to Pew Research data. Working late in life is not for the faint of heart, say experts.

A new phase of lifeThe percentage of those 65 and older who are in the workforce has quadrupled since the mid-1980s, according to Pew Research Center, with about 19% of the age group holding a job. They work in a range of positions, including high-powered jobs like lawmakers, presidents and company executives. This year, 24 members of Congress were older than 80, including Senator Chuck Grassley, the oldest lawmaker at age 92.

Several factors may be leading more people to work into their later years, ageing experts said. For one, more people have access to health care, meaning more Americans are making it to their 80s. For some, the move may be financially necessary, as the cost of living in the US continues to rise.

What Experts Say

A recent survey conducted by Indeed Flex, a job search site, says almost 30% of retirees are considering part time or temporary work. Over 60% of those who are say the rising cost of living is a factor. But about half also attribute it to a desire for more social interaction.

Another reason, perhaps, is a change in attitude about age, and what can be accomplished, said Gordon Lithgow, a professor with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. "I hope that people are beginning to think, it's really who's qualified for the job, it's not what age they are," Lithgow said. "There's no question that people can function well into their 70s and potentially their 80s as well.

"For Harriet Newman Cohen, a 93-year-old matrimonial lawyer who still goes to court and just wrote a memoir, some of the most interesting and rewarding years of her life have been her later decades. "Working has kept me young, vigorous, energetic, knowledgeable, fun," said Cohen, who has represented celebrities in their divorces, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. "I just can't imagine living any other way.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.