Great answer Peter.

BUT! That is only a small piece in today's world. The problem lies with the underlying business / corporate culture set in stone where the older employees are (as these companies say):

a) not productive

b) too expensive to retain

c) too old to be nimble

d) saddled with slow cognition

e) incapable of being efficient

f) etc....

g) basically, many companies are stewing in age, gender and racial discrimination - STILL.

Do not get me wrong, those stupid and backwards thinking mindsets are changing but it is at a GLACIAL pace.

Some companies are embracing older employees as a HIGHLY valuable asset, whereas, other companies are not extrapolating ahead as they should be and capitalizing on the knowledge and experience that these older employees continue to harbor. The empirical knowledge is a waste to cut loose. If that employee is not as valuable as before, don't cut them, move them around to re-energize them and continue using that knowledge to the company's benefits.

80. Just a number.

True, for those out there thinking there is brain plaque and dementia setting in. What is also true that scientists and doctors are finding out, just b/c a person has dementia, it does not guarantee that cognitive skill set will automatically diminish due to an advanced age number.

Technology is changing, especially in the area of alzheimers and parkinsons diseases - these dr's/scientists know more now than they did 5 years ago.

The solution:

We "older" folks in the workplace - continue showing how beneficial we are to the bottom line and to the corporate culture.

Man - doing that at 80, THAT is inspirational....!!!!