DANVILLE — After years in the workplace or raising their children, most senior citizens look forward to a care-free retirement. For some, however, the poor economy has turned those plans upside down.

Some seniors are finding that Social Security isn’t enough, and they need to get back into the workplace — or enter it for the first time.

That’s where two local agencies step in, and place seniors in temporary jobs so they can get some training in preparation for a full-time job.

“There’s a great need for our program,” said Stacey Parr, employment and training coordinator, based in Greenup, who oversees the Danville office of Experience Works.

Experience Works is a federally-funded program that helps low-income persons age 55 and over get training so they can find jobs.

The Danville office is located in the Illinois Department of Employment Security building at 407 N. Franklin.

Right next to that desk is the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging, which offers a similar service, but it’s administered by the state.

Both Experience Works and the Area Agency on Aging place eligible seniors with host agencies so they can get experience.

Because of the bad economy, both programs have seen a jump in the number of seniors seeking jobs in the past year. Both have waiting lists — something they haven’t seen until recently.

“It’s not because they’re bored and want to get out of the house,” Parr said. Instead, the seniors need help with finances.

When a senior is placed with a host agency, he or she works part-time and receives minimum wage for a few months or until he’s able to find a full-time job. Sometimes, the program will pay for further education or training.

At 85, Rose Clauson is a good example of a senior who’s still willing to work.

As field assistant with the Experience Works office in Danville, she’s has been with the program about 16 years. (Founded in 1965, it formerly was known as Green Thumb.)

She has 12 people in training and three on a waiting list. Most are in their late 60s and 70s, she said.

“We’re seeing more people coming in since the recession,” she said. However, because of the limited number of participating agencies and openings, all she can do is take a pre-application.

A senior who applies — and who meets the age and income guidelines — is matched with a host agency. For example, someone wanting to learn clerical skills might be placed in a public library.

The host agency must be a non-profit, governmental, or 501c3 agency.

Experience Works pays the person’s wages — $8.25 an hour — and workman’s compensation; the person works 18 hours a week.

There’s no cost to the host agency; all it has to do is train the senior.

The training period varies from about four to six months to a year or so. The senior is encouraged to use his newfound skills to find a full-time job, and that opens a spot for another trainee. In an ideal situation, the host agency hires the senior.

Agencies needed

One problem Clauson is seeing that there are fewer host agencies.

Parr speculated that some agencies don’t want to invest their time in training someone who’s going to leave; others don’t want to take away work from full-time people or reduce those hours; some might have had a bad experience in the past; some are so short-handed that they don’t have the manpower to train someone.

“I hope and pray more agencies will use our services,” Clauson said.

The Danville Housing Authority is a big proponent of Experience Works, having trained several people and even hiring some.

Executive Director Greg Hilleary sees it as a win-win situation — an older person gets an opportunity to work and the agency gets free labor.

The DHA has been using Experience Works trainees for five or six years, he said, and has hired at least four. DHA once had 45 employees, and now it’s down to 29, so the seniors’ extra hands help out.

“To be able to utilize cost-free labor is a wonderful thing,” he said, adding there’s no direct cost to the agency.

He’s found older workers to have a strong work ethic and dedication.

Agency on Aging

The Area Agency on Aging’s program is similar to Experience Works, although the income guidelines are slightly different. It was formed in 1964 as part of the Older Americans Act.

Program assistant Wyatt Zimmerman, 66, said there are 18 seniors in training and 13 on a waiting list. Her program uses 19 host agencies in the area.

The program, she said, “forms a bridge between not working and getting back into the work force.”

She’s seeing more seniors with degrees who have lost their jobs, and are trying to upgrade their skills.

“Even people with degrees can’t find jobs — it’s sad,” she said.

Like Clauson and Hilleary, she praised the attributes of older workers.

“Seniors are loyal; they are eager to learn; they want to work; they bring their life experiences,” she said. “If you have a senior on your staff, you’re fortunate.”

FYI

To learn more about Experience Works, call Rose Clauson at 442-0236, ext. 211. The Web site is http://www.experienceworks.org

To learn about the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging’s Older Workers Employment Program, call Wyatt Zimmerman at 442-0236, ext. 210. The Web site is http://www.eciaaa.org