1. Voiceover Professional
Voiceover work is an acting area where age can work in an older person's favor. There's plenty of opportunities to ply one's trade:
. Training videos to audio books to TV commercials. The big bucks are in Los Angeles and New York but corporations, nonprofits and small businesses offer opportunities practically anywhere.
. Work can be done from home studios with personal computers and low-cost recording equipment.
. Aspirants will need to refine their skills and educate themselves before giving it a shot.After learning the ropes a 55+ second career seeker could earn $100 per session or up to $1,000 for a national TV commercial.
. Movies represent the zenith of voiceover work but go to those with the most experience. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in Los Angeles guarantees the highest
pay. Check your local SAG office.Continuing education programs are a good starting point.
2. Life-cycle celebrant
The Next Avenue Column admits it's a new field that many don't know about, but it's a growth business. Life-cycle celebrants helps people commemorate important life moments:
. a wedding
. a divorce
. an adoption
. a loss of a beloved pet
. etc
The life-cycle celebrant works with clients to craft highly personalized ceremonies reflecting clients' values, heritage, beliefs and religious customs. With inter-ethnic and interfaith marriages are on the rise, couples need to hold meaningful ceremonies beyond traditional religious institutions.
Life-cycle celebrants can earn from a $100 to $1,000 depending on the extent of the ceremony.
3. Senior move manager
Moving is one of the most stressful activities in people's lives, especially for the elderly. Senior move managers help out through this tough transition, helping clients with the process of decluttering, downsizing and relocating.
Maturity and experience works in the favor of becoming a senior move manager. The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) - based in suburban Chicago, IL - reports that three-quarters of its members are 50 or older. Elderly people who need help moving take comfort in having an older person help them.
The job entails:
. Organizing household belongings
. Disposing and arranging for the sale of items
. Packing and unpacking boxes
. Planning the client’s new home space and assistance with decorating.
Senior move managers can also help the elderly 'age in place', streamlining their possessions and organizing their space. Pay can be hourly or by the project - $25 for hourly services - negotiated fees per project. Senior move managers often work with assisted living facilities and senior residence communities.
National Association of Senior Move Managers is a great starting spot. It has established many local chapters outside of its Chicago headquarters.