Not many older people can choose to simply ‘unretire’ | Letters

Alan Walker says ill-health is stopping many over-50s from returning to work, while Frances Lawrence points out that a number of older adults are already working as unpaid carers, and Paul Martinez says some just have better things to do

The decline in the employment rate of older workers is due, in large part, to policy failure (The Guardian view on unretirement': older workers could help with labour shortages, 21 August). Primarily, it is the failure to prevent the present epidemic of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, which manifest themselves in later life - and now, increasingly, at younger working ages.

In comparison to Sweden, for example, the UK's prevention and occupational rehabilitation services are poor, and the employment rate among those aged 55-64 is significantly lower. Large numbers of older workers are simply not fit to work - and no amount of return-to-work policies will change that.
Prof Alan Walker
Co-director, Healthy Lifespan Institute