As They Became Seniors, They Started Businesses for Them

For older would-be entrepreneurs who want to capture a piece of the aging-related market, “you have to think of how you take your skills and passions and shift them to a new area,” said Mary Furlong, a consultant on longevity marketing.

A writer, for example, could work with clients to create memoirs and legacy letters. A person with financial expertise could become a daily money manager, helping an older person pay bills and handle other paperwork. Move managers could use their organizational or design talents to help older people move to a smaller home.

Usually with short-term training or certification, a person could start a business delivering nonmedical services, like nutritional counseling or wellness coaching.

Midlife owners, particularly those in the health fields, may find themselves with a leg up when dealing with older clients. Several studies show that elderly people are more likely to take advice from peers on nutrition, fall prevention, and the management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses.

“I think my age does work to my advantage,” Ms. Hardy said. “It really makes a difference to have someone helping them through the process.” As a patient advocate, she helps clients prepare questions for providers, attends medical appointments with them and reviews their care options.

The key to building Sharon Emek’s business was her prominence as a top insurance executive in New York. In 2010, when she was 64, Ms. Emek founded Work at Home Vintage Experts, or WAHVE, which matches insurance companies with professionals over 50 who work remotely as independent contractors.

Two big changes in the industry convinced Ms. Emek that such a venture had potential. Young workers were snubbing insurance for jobs on Wall Street. And many experienced workers who weren’t ready to retire wanted flexible work arrangements, perhaps moving closer to the grandchildren, she said. Female professionals were particularly worried that they would outlive their savings.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/16/business/small-business-senior-citizens.html