To think I can't keep this up till 67?

[GodImTired]

I' work in acute paediatrics in the NHS. We work 13 1/2 hour shifts with usually only 3/4 of an hour for break. I have a step counter and average 13500 steps on every shift sometimes nearly 20000. It's a mentally demanding job we are constantly under staffed and we are increasingly seeing more and more exceedingly unwell children. Our doctors are also stretched to their full capacity. I and nearly all my colleagues go above and beyond what we're meant to do for both the children in our care and their parents we know this as we frequently receive verbal and written comment to this effect. But we also receive endless trivial complaints about the food, the view out the hospital window, and other which are demoralising.
At the end of many shifts I'm mentally as well as physically drained.
I'm 51 due to time out to bring up my children I haven't paid enough pension to retire early so will work till 67. I'm increasingly thinking that this won't be physically or mentally possible. Also the NHS is literally falling to pieces I started nursing over 30 years ago I cannot believe it's got this bad. But I love my job have tried less demanding areas and hate it.
I'm aware it's not just nurses who are struggling many others in other occupations particularly the public sector must feel the same. What are we all going to do? Many are my age are leaving in droves pension or no pension. Are the jobs we love and feel passionately about eventually just going to wear us down? What are we going to do? Or AIBU should I thank my lucky stars I have a job hopefully till 67 (that's what are management tell us).

Place marking. I met a nurse the other day who is 72! She works 2 nights a month. I have thought same as you OP ....will read thread at some point. 13 hour shift tomoz.

Oh don't let me keep you up nation, of course, it's fine if you don't manage to reply at all. Its a completely off topic question but just one I was interested to ask about given your position. Sleep well x

YDNBU. My poor late mum worked 16 hours a day. She's always been a worker and thrived on it but, Her body just gave up in the end and basically told her. Enough is enough. Can you Possibly ask for less hours. The biggest kicker, though is. If you can afford to go part time or can they give you lighter duties

I often wonder about fire fighters for example
No disrespect at all, but how is a man/women of say 66 who is plagued with arthritis going to be able to rescue some one from a burning building. I'm not saying that because of disabilities people can't carry on working, of course they can. If they want and feel able to, but there has to be limits. There's a risk to safe guarding if there aren't any, but that's your conservative government. Not living in the real world, because. Theyve never had to.

I really think more people are going to die at work, or soon after stopping work.

And that employers and pension administrators will tighten up medical retirement criteria still further so that more people are fired for capability or absences, and then have to rely on savings or seek a new job or benefits, when they're unwell.

Let's not forget ageism in employment: not at all easy to get a job in a new role or field when you're older.

I don't think there were studies done on what proportion of people are likely to be fit to work in some public sector roles until 67 before the pension age was raised.

I have an office job so am very lucky. Teaching, healthcare, social work and other frontline jobs are totally different and much more demanding IMO.

Also, people are living longer but that doesn't mean we're fit. in many cases with health conditions and disabilities that affect them significantly.

The PP who mentioned senior people (men) working til their late 60s in full time work, on boards and so on.

I've worked with successful people (mainly men but some women too) like that and observed that they often thrive at work and are in privileged positions: well paid, senior exec roles with big teams, high influence etc. Not comparable to most public sector workers.

Speaking to them you will also find that a lot of their peers retired youngish (they could afford to) or are dead.

I've worked with successful people (mainly men but some women too) like that and observed that they often thrive at work and are in privileged positions: well paid, senior exec roles with big teams, high influence etc. Not comparable to most public sector workers.

If you observe these people closely, you'll see that some are workaholics, but you'll also find people who work relatively few hours. They are in a position where they are rewarded for their knowledge, experience and decision making/ advice-giving ability - not their hours worked. Often much of their "work" takes place in restaurants and on golf courses ...

And of course they don't get home from work and have to do the supermarket shopping, put on a load of washing and do the housework.

Well, they might, but more likely don't!

OP YANBU. There are some jobs that it would be difficult for some people to do at that age. It might be a good idea to look at different jobs whilst you are at the age you are now because ageism is rife and this is causing major problems for some people in their late 50s and 60s. People who make sweeping statements about people who should have to work later in life haven't reached that age and therefore haven't got a clue or know people who do work later in life but are in privileged positions. The average age of people living longer means nothing at all, it's an average, which means many people won't reach that average age. Try looking at people who live longer but in chronic illhealth and think of yourself.

I moved sideways out of a front line job some years ago and I also work part time. I recommend it op, if you can find a way. It will affect my pension but I'd rather stay in work for longer than crash and burn.

And yes, living longer is not the same as staying in good health. I'm nearly 60 and from now on, I think health is a lottery. I've mostly looked after myself so I'm hoping my odds are good but I know I'm not insulated. I have friends in their 60s and 70s in great health but I've lost count of those with cancer and heart disease, or with conditions that may not be life threatening but are painful and debilitating. (Or those already dead).

As for comparing consultancy work in retirement - at a time / place of your own choosing - with the daily grind that is work. Tosh.

Me too, moved sideways, I mean. I dropped my pay grade & this, in turn, will reduce my pension. I have a health condition & basically have to look after myself & rest & all that.... that wasn't an option in front line social work.
But I have to work until 67, like so many of the women who got the short end of the stick & I'd rather not drop dead at work...
I love what I'm doing now & actually get home at a reasonable hour, usually. It feels like a good trade off.

I know people who have worked past their pension age. And people who have died long before reaching their pension age, alongside people who have struggled to carry on working till their pension age.
I have noticed that the Government seems to be talking as if few people these days have physical jobs. That is simply not true. It is true that few people have very physical jobs such as labourers, but there are plenty of jobs that are still physical and about half of my friends do jobs like these.

Also the advice to simply start a new career is not as easy as it sounds. I have friends who did this in their forties because their type of job was disappearing, and in their fifties can no longer do those jobs. By this age, you can get very basic entry level jobs, but very few are willing to employ someone starting a new career. So yes if you want a job serving in B & Q you can get it, but it means taking on a minimum wage job and often on zero hour contracts.

NationMcKinley, respect to you. Even the forty-fifth time LiamSpawnOfSatan spat at me and required disarming of a Stanley knife is not as day-on-day physically and mentally draining as your and OP's job and now I feel mardy for moaning :)
BUT point I wanted to reply to was Daisy's "if you can't physically or mentally continue in your role then find another one!"
Yes, dear. There are loads of employers out there trampling others in the queue to get a trained-for-nothing-else 50-something. Wakey wakey. Even Asda has enough retired voiceover greeters.

Godimtired. I'm a paediatric nurse and also work full time on 13.5 hour shifts. It is getting harder the volume of patients and the amount of paperwork is ridiculous but I still wouldn't want to do anything else. I love my job. I disagree both as a patient and as staff that the NHS is falling apart.

AllTheUsers - well what do you advise, er, dear?

I would
Hope that if OP starts lolling and exploring now she can get clearer on NHS work that's less physical - as that seems to be the major issue the actual physical toil

• not helped by the long hours and emotional stress

Good luck - you are amazing

Almost half of the long term unemployed are over 50. 3.6% of people 50-64 are unemployed. The amount of people this age in employment is rising.

www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/archive/50-plus-workers-trapped-in-long-term-unemployment/