Coming Out of Retirement

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123535088586444925.html?mod=todays_us_page_one

Mary Appleby, 76 years old, lost her job in January as a cashier at a
courthouse cafeteria here. She is now looking for minimum-wage work.
Mary
Bennett, 80, began filling out applications for fast-food restaurants and
convenience stores after she was laid off last March as a machinist. Fred Dase,
81, a bartender until last summer, also needs another job.

During
past recessions, older workers simply would have retired rather than searching
want ads and applying for jobs. But these days, with outstanding mortgages, bank
loans and high medical bills, many of them can't afford to be out of
work.
With jobs so scarce, people in their seventh and eighth decades are up
against those half their age in a desperate scramble for work.