Local employment program targets seniors

While some people look forward to retirement and its proverbial rocking chair comfort, many senior adults want or need to work. Seniors in their 50s and 60s may seek professional positions; older adults may wish to supplement their Social Security income or simply find a good excuse for getting out of the house. The Hire Older Workers (H.O.W.) program in Lexington, Ky., serves both groups by providing training and employment assistance to local residents 55 years or older.

The H.O.W. program began in 1984 as part of the Mayor’s Training Center. Residents over 55, regardless of income, can use the program to find employment in a variety of fields, including office work, computers, health care, hospitality, maintenance and elder care.

Next to H.O.W. in the Lexington Senior Citizens Center, the Senior Community Service Employment Program is a training and employment agency operated through the Urban League of Lexington and Fayette County and the U.S. Department of Labor. H.O.W. Program Coordinator Lesli James-Place says that the two organizations routinely refer clients to each other to find the best place for each senior.

Operating under the federal Workforce Investment Act, H.O.W. must attempt to find a job for each applicant. If a lack of training prevents the applicant from attaining employment, then the staff can help the individual obtain appropriate training. The program provides funding for both the employee placement and the training through a combination of local and federal support.

The greatest demand for training is in computers, according to James-Place. However, the H.O.W. program recently combined with Careers After 60, a local program that employs seniors primarily as elder caregivers. As a result, many H.O.W. participants now are providing affordable home care for the city’s senior citizens. (The hourly rate for caregivers in the program begins at $7; maid service begins at $10 an hour.)

In addition to providing home care, participants typically work for parking lot companies, the U.S. Census Bureau, a telephone directory service, doctor’s offices and law firms. The program has proven popular for employers and employees alike, says James-Place. “We have a lot of employers that call us and ask for an employee `Just like the last one you sent us,'” she says. “That’s the best advertising we can get.”

For more information, contact Lesli James-Place at Hire Older Workers, (606) 278-6072, ext. 331.