Understanding the Relationship between Employment and Health in Older Workers

I have a background in occupational health psychology and gerontology. Through exposure to these broad areas of research, I realize that more research is needed into the health and well-being of older workers. This is especially true given the impending growth of this demographic. There is a positive relationship between being employment and good health. I am interested in examining this relationship in more detail with older workers. Workers face a number of issues as they approach retirement age, including whether they want to retire as many older workers find meaning and enjoyment in their work. I intend to examine whether the relationship between employment and health is the same for both younger and older workers. Although there is a link between employment and health, working conditions also play a role. As people age and experience some decline in health, working conditions may play a larger role in the link between employment and health. For older workers, good working conditions may be more important in the link between health and employment. A better understanding of this link in older workers will not only benefit workers, but will help organizations keep valued employees in the workforce. In my current research, I am examining staff mix in long-term care facilities and how it impacts resident quality of life and staff work experiences. Specifically, I'm examining how different combinations of staff qualifications (e.g., regulated to unregulated workers) and staff number ( e.g., number of direct care staff per resident) impact the lives of the residents and the staff. Staff have reported on their perceptions of their work environment including the extent they feel overloaded, the clarity of their roles, job autonomy, in addition to measures of employee engagement and health. This research is providing me with a base of knowledge regarding working conditions and health, which I can use in my investigation of the well-being of older workers.