Mick Jagger turned 65 a few days ago. That’s right, the Rolling Stones rock and roll legend is officially eligible to retire.

But apparently he has no plans to do so. According to the U.S. News and World Report blog “Planning to Retire,” the Rolling Stones and Universal Music Group signed a long-term deal just last week. So the beat goes on.

And why should Mick retire? Not only are he and his bandmates still able to pack a house, they grossed nearly $558 million on their last tour in 2007.

Most of us aren’t anywhere near being in that financial position, of course. With gas and food prices on the rise, and healthcare costs continuing their climb, many retirees are either returning to work or cutting back to make ends meet, according to a recent MSNBC story that finds seniors “perhaps the hardest-hit victims of the slumping economy.”

An increasing number of older workers are delaying retirement or re-evaluating plans to retire. According to an AARP survey in May, nearly one in five people ages 55 to 64 and about one in four ages 45 to 54 said they planned to delay retirement due to the economic downturn.

An uncertain economy has also spurred some retirees to return to the labor force, fearing they’ll outlive their savings, according to “Shaky Economy Puts Retirement Plans on Hold.” Nearly one of four adults ages 65 to 74 was in the workforce, and those numbers continue to grow. In 2000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded just 19 percent of workers in that age group.

But never mind about “older” workers in their 60s and 70s. How about workers in their 80s? My own mother, who is nearing that age group, just left a position in fundraising in June, will take a short break for the summer, and then will start looking for a new job this fall.

Mom would be perfectly happy to stop working. She has plenty of other things to fill her days. But living on a fixed income — even when keeping expenses down — is tough, and unexpected (and uncovered) medical bills led her to hit the pavement again.

Are your parents continuing to work, deep into traditional retirement age? If so, why? I welcome your stories on this new generation of older workers.

– Lori Woehrle