More and more Americans are taking back their future from a depressed economy and reversing a decades long trend of retiring early. With a failing system of Social Security and Medicaid and an aging population it's no wonder many boomers are working longer before retiring. There are a number of reasons more people are working to an older age. Some just because they can and others because they want to, but increasingly more and more because they need to.

The options often seem limitless, but when dealing with an aging population some do not have the skills needed to remain in the workforce. None the less, they want or need to work. This is making the work from home or home based business arena even more of an opportunity for developing the extra income most average Americans will need as life expectancy continues to increase.

Take a look at some of the latest data released just this month from the Bureau of Labor:

- Year to year employment has increased for Americans 65 and older.

- Decreases in employment for those under 65 in each of the last three months.

- Last year 15.5% of Americans 65 and older were in the labor force. This is the highest rate since 1971 and this is an upward trend from a low of 10.4% in 1985.

- Until 2002 part time workers always outnumbered full time workers among older workers, but 56.3% of workers who were 65 or older worked full time last year. This is a new high.

- In the last 30 years the 65 and older work force grew by 101%, compared with a increase of all workers at only 59%.

- A whopping increase of 172% can be scene in workers over 75.

Financial insecurity has become the number one reason for Americans to put off retirement. The old

line, "I've got some good news and some bad news" rings oh so true. Good news is you, sir/mamm, are going to live longer. Bad news is you, sir/mamm, will need a lot more money to live. Our money or the money we thought we had keeps shrinking. Retirement plans keep getting battered by the financial markets and housing equity keeps shrinking at the same time.

With all of this in mind what matters right now is looking to the future and developing a mindset that goes beyond retirement. Weather cash gifting, mlm, or network marketing, a work from home opportunity may help many older Americans continue their dream of a financially secure retirement, whenever it may come. We're a long way past 1948 when only 26.1% of those over 65 were in the labor force. Experts believe this trend will continue and more and more boomers will continue to remain in the labor force possible well into their 70's. Starting now and developing a work from home mentality will go a long ways in creating the financial independence we may all need in the future.