DAVIS COUNTY — When most people think about their senior years they picture themselves napping under a hammock, traveling the country and having fun with their grandkids. Instead, the reality is that many seniors have several more years of work ahead. A growing part of the working seniors have no other option, because financial struggles may require them to forego retirement. Adding all pensions, savings and Social Security incomes, the numbers can still fall short. Some seniors still have some degree of debt to deal with.

Other struggling seniors have custody of their grandchildren. This adds expenses that will force seniors working again. “It’s a big, growing population,” said Ron Burris, senior employment specialist for Davis County Aging Services. From the U.S. government Social Security program, the average retired worker is given $959 a month while a spouse would receive an average of $478 a month. “I don’t think you live in luxury if (Social Security) is all you have,” said Charon Campbell, office specialist and activities coordinator.

Soon baby boomers, a substantial percentage of the population, will turn into seniors. Moreover, baby boomers weren’t children of the depression years, and consequently weren’t as frugal. “A lot of the baby boomers were not careful in saving money for retirement,” added Burris.

Finding a job is quite a challenge for seniors as well. Employers feel reluctant to train someone who is going to retire. Burris noted that seniors often have a greater longevity with their jobs than younger workers. Younger workers try to build a career and increase their salary, subsequently job hopping after only a few years. Seniors aren’t concerned with building a career and will stay in one place. “Older workers might be 55 or 65, but might want to work another 10 - 12 years,” added Burris.

Another difficulty is that the pay won’t be nearly as high as it was before turning 65. “There is frustration that there’s no way they can make the wage they were making before,” said Burris.

Though having no choice but to work is a tough pill to swallow, many seniors don’t find working in their later years a dismal trap of weary servitude. “Constant vacationing can be boring, working is more fun for senior people.” said Campbell. Work can provide a sense of accomplishment, “the joy of serving, to feel useful, to feel active.”

Betty Lawson has worked in the Floral Department of Fred Meyer/Smith’s Marketplace for more than 49 years.

“A lot my age don’t want to work. I have always wanted to work,” said Lawson. “I need it for myself. I love it.”

More than 200 volunteers lend their hands at the Bountiful center alone. “It’s a job they have to wake up for,” said Campbell. “They are working for the sheer joy of helping people.”