I'm 87 and work full time. I was rejected from hundreds of companies in my 80s and have a low-paying job, but I love the work.

Charles Smith

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charles Smith, 87, who lives in Pennsylvania. After hundreds of unsuccessful applications in his mid-80s, he found work at the Lancaster County Office of Aging and makes about $30,000 a year. He and his wife live a frugal and somewhat comfortable life, though Smith said if he didn't work, they would be much more stressed financially. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.