Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Working at 76: Inflation forces hard choice for older adults

Kasey Dungan, 73, holds her 11-year-old mixed dachshund Sandy in a subsidized Phoenix apartment for older adults on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. She says she feels fortunate to be with her dog in her home after falling into homelessness early this year. But high costs for food and other bills mean her entire Social Security check is gone by month's end. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)
Kasey Dungan, 73, holds her 11-year-old mixed dachshund Sandy in a subsidized Phoenix apartment for older adults on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. She says she feels fortunate to be with her dog in her home after falling into homelessness early this year. But high costs for food and other bills mean her entire Social Security check is gone by month's end. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey) Kasey Dungan, 73, holds her 11-year-old mixed dachshund Sandy in a subsidized Phoenix apartment for older adults on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. She says she feels fortunate to be with her dog in her home after falling into homelessness early this year. But high costs for food and other bills mean her entire Social Security check is gone by month's end. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

By ANITA SNOW / Associated Press 5 min read

PHOENIX (AP) — Lenore Angey never imagined she’d have to go back to work at age 76.

With an ailing husband and the highest prices she can remember for everything from milk to gasoline, the retired school lunch worker from Cleveland, Ohio, now works part time as a salesperson at a local department store to cover the costs of food and medicine.

“The holidays are going to be tough, and it’s not just for seniors,” said Angey, who said she was happy to get an extra 10 hours a week during the busy shopping season. “Luckily my daughter-in-law did all the cooking for Thanksgiving and I brought a few dishes. But the Christmas celebration will definitely be more modest.”

Inflationary pressures may be starting to ease, but higher prices throughout much of 2022 are still taking a toll on older adults, with a larger share of people like Angey saying they felt their finances were worse off than a year before. Consumer inflation in November was still up 7.1% from a year earlier.

While people of all ages are struggling, those over 65 often have an even harder time because they usually live on a fixed income, unable to increase their paychecks with overtime or bonuses.