Late last year I was all but forced into retirement. The company's insurers didn't like a 79 year-old, so it was time to retire. Here's what I miss:
Work environments provide daily, structured social interactions that help combat the need to be occupied which reduces the risk of depression.
Continuing to work kept my mind active and engaged, important in that it helped sustain memory, something that can be quickly lost without a stimulus. The benefit of working in older age is the pleasure to give back, mentor, and share experience. It provides a sense of accomplishment, competence, and a, structured, meaningful, daily routine. I still miss it, but I don't mope, retirement is what it is.