Older In-migrants are Volunteers and Workers

Nina Glasgow, Ph.D.Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA

July, 2008Sapporo and Date, Japan

Many Older In-Migrants Have Family Ties in Their New Communities

Comparative Profile of Older In-Migrants vs. Longer Term Older Residents

Migrants Non-migrants

% Currently Married 74.9 68.4

Median Age 67.0 71.0

% Female 48.6 66.2

% College Graduate 43.5 34.7

% Ever Retired 91.0 82.7

%Currently Working 36.9 34.8

Yrs. Lived in County 3.0 22.0

Source: Cornell Retirement Migration Survey, 2002

In-migrants Quickly Become Active in Community Organizations

Older In-Migrants are Active Volunteers

In-migrant volunteers at community center

In-migrant with multiple volunteer roles

Social Entrepreneurship in Action

In-migrant volunteers drive senior center vans to deliver meals

and to transport older persons

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, built & maintained by older volunteers

Some Older In-Migrants are Active Workers and Entrepreneurs

In-migrant who owns a home improvement business

Mayor of Payson Arizona, a part-time position

Entrepreneurial Roles (business and institutional)

• Mayor of Payson, Arizona• Established Service Corps of Retired Executives

chapter in Brevard, North Carolina• Choirmaster in Boothbay Harbor, Maine• Owner of winery, inn, horse stable and creamery

in Leelanau, Michigan – also chair of county economic development agency

• Plant nursery worker and volunteer at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Conclusions

• Older in-migrants are mainstays in the voluntary sector• Many older in-migrants are engaged in paid work

– Part-time or full-time– Owner or employee

• Retirement is NOT a discrete event– It is a transitional process

• Work to retirement• Retirement to work (re-entry)• Full-time to part-time work• Company employee to self-employment

• Aging-in-Place?– How long will productive roles last as in-migrants advance in

age?• Will the costs of aging eventually exceed its benefits?

Thank You!