It's a common story for folks who have spent most of their adult life working in lower-paying jobs and are now middle age or seniors; people who don't have a pension and didn't established a consistent savings program for retirement. When they age to the point where Social Security becomes available, they leave their job in order to live on their SS Benefits. That's when they learn that their Social Security doesn't offer the income they were expecting. They need more money.

Some of these people try to get back into the workforce but find it difficult to obtain employment. Age discrimination may be against the law, but that doesn't stop it. Just ask any 55-plus job applicant who is vying with folks in their 20's for the same opening.

This is despite the fact that older employees are well known for their honesty, loyalty and work ethic. Most have spent a lifetime training to possess those qualities. An older hire is also a lot less likely to jump from job to job.

At the same time, those who spent many years on the job at a small business find that they are actually not marketable as an employee because their skills have not been updated in a decade or more. They are behind in knowledge about electronics and computer operations. Where can they go to get the necessary training?

Though it doesn't get much publicity, there has developed a wide community specifically for the older worker. This is where the nonprofits come in. One of the best known is Easter Seals. This well-known nonprofit offers job coaching and training for those who want to get back into the workforce, and also has a strong program of job placement on its Senior Community Service Employment Program.

On its website, Easter Seals notes, "Since getting its first grant in 2003, Easter Seals has provided training in Chicago and at affiliates nationwide, for about 38,000 participants. Their educational levels varied widely: Some lacked high school diplomas, others had doctoral degrees."

The site adds that since the 2003 inception of the program, "Easter Seals has served nearly 40,000 older job seekers, with over 4,500 people transitioning out to employment." Check out their site at, http://www.easterseals.com/our-programs/employment-training/senior-community-service-employment-program-scsep.html

Another national nonprofit also offers training and career support to bring the participant's skills up to par, as well as job placement. This is the National Able Network, with offices throughout the country. Their site can be viewed at, www.nationalable.org/jobseekers/'

National Able Network says it serves 76,000 job seekers annually, and many clients obtained a job with a 19 percent increase over the wages they had once been getting.

New career training and assistance is free at both agencies.

Even the Federal Government has developed programs that exist to help older workers find new employment. Whether an older worker is doing it for the money or just to make new friends and have a more active social life, America is becoming a lot more friendly to older workers.

Wina Sturgeon is an active 55+ based in Salt Lake City, who offers news on the science of anti-aging and staying youthful at: adventuresportsweekly.com. She skates, bikes and lifts weights to stay in shape.

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