When I first became aware of the concept of retirement, I imagined it to be something everyone did when they turned 65, and I didn’t give much thought to how the financial part of that worked. As I got older, I gained a better understanding of it, but my example for working was different than that model. My father is 76 years old and still teaches high school full-time. While I’m sure the money is a big factor, he’s also just one of those people who works — that’s just what he does. It’s a bonus that keeps him active and healthy.

When it comes time for him to retire, he’s planned well, so I think he will mostly have what he needs, but many people are not as fortunate. My mother-in-law recently retired from working at 83 because she had no financial way to retire before that, and especially in this economy, she’s not alone:

Amid the economic downturn, shrinking retirement accounts, increasing costs for food and medicine, and stiff competition for even entry-level jobs, evidence is building that the dream of a comfortable retirement is dying for many Americans.

The ranks of the elderly looking for work has swelled more than 120 percent to more than 1.8 million in the last year. Among that group, those who were 75 and older increased by 80 percent, according to data from the National Council on Aging.

Many seniors are returning to work in order to make ends meet, and there are several resources for assistance with improving skills, training and finding a job:

RetirementJobs.com -Full- and part-time jobs from age-friendly employers
AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
Retired Brains – full-time, part-time, and temporary retirement jobs for older workers
Wiser Worker – job listings for older workers by keyword or location, career articles, resources and listings of local job fairs across the country
National Council on Aging – has a jobs and resumes site.

Unemployment is high and seniors often face an extra hurdle in the job market because of their age, and these programs can help give them a fair chance to compete.