For many retirees, the thought of leaving the workforce behind is a scary one. But there are plenty of online job ideas for retirees that can help you make some extra money, stay busy, and even keep your mind sharp. Here, I will share 10 of the best online job ideas for retirees with you. If you’re looking for ways to do “something” productive and enrich your retirement life, read on. You're sure to find online work that taps into your life experience while exploring meaningful topics.
1. End-of-Life Planning Consultant
End-of-life planning is often neglected or left to the last minute. As an online consultant, you help clients prepare for this fabulous part of life, covering wills, funeral preferences, and other wishes they want honored.
Imagine helping people make choices with clarity. This role allows you to guide clients step-by-step in organizing their plans:
Assist in creating a comprehensive plan including healthcare directives and financial matters.
Offer packages for different needs: basic consultations, full planning guides, or ongoing support.
Provide digital tools and checklists, making the process simple for clients.
People often need this service but don’t know where to start. You step in as someone knowledgeable, providing a straightforward, compassionate approach.
2. Grief Support Group Facilitator
Grief is a personal experience, but many find comfort in sharing with others. By facilitating online grief support groups, you create a space where people feel understood and less alone in their journey.
You can easily set up virtual sessions using platforms like Zoom. Facilitation involves guiding discussions, offering gentle prompts, and ensuring everyone has a chance to speak:
- Organize weekly or bi-weekly group sessions focused on specific losses (e.g., spousal loss, child loss, pet loss).
- Use structured topics for each meeting, such as handling anniversaries or dealing with sudden triggers.
- Develop private forums or chat groups for ongoing support outside of video calls.
This role is about connection, giving people a place where they can talk, listen, and heal together.
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3. Online Obituary Writer (with shocking words to stand out)
Obituaries don’t have to be formulaic or dull. As an online obituary writer, you offer families creative ways to remember their loved ones with words that make people take notice—no blandness allowed.
Here’s what you might do:
Craft personalized, engaging narratives that reflect the uniqueness of the deceased: “He always said life was too short to eat bad pizza, and he lived by that rule.”
Incorporate humor and quirks, giving an honest and memorable depiction: “She left behind a house filled with books, plants, and unfinished knitting projects—just as she wanted.”
Offer creative obituary templates, allowing clients to choose a style that fits their needs—whether heartwarming, humorous, or bold.
An obituary doesn’t have to read like a list of dates and facts; it’s a chance to celebrate a life in all its colors.
4. Genealogy Researcher: Assist People in Researching Family Histories
Genealogy is a rewarding field for those interested in history and family ties. As a genealogy researcher, you dig into records, trace family lines, and uncover fascinating stories hidden in the past.
Here’s how you can turn this into a practical online job:
Offer tiered packages: basic family tree construction, in-depth research, or storytelling that ties together their ancestors’ lives.
Help clients discover unknown relatives, connect with distant branches, and even find long-lost heirlooms.
Create personalized family history books or visual family trees, complete with photos and stories.
Many people want to know where they come from but lack the skills or time to find out. You provide the expertise to bring their lineage to life.
5. Remembrance Content Creator
Creating content that focuses on grief, end-of-life planning, or memorial ideas isn’t just fulfilling—it’s in demand. You could write blogs, create videos, or develop guides that touch on these topics.
Some content ideas include:
Write articles on how to plan a meaningful memorial service, including tips for virtual events.
Produce videos on handling grief anniversaries or ways to memorialize loved ones creatively.
Develop downloadable resources like “End-of-Life Planning Checklists” or “Creative Memorial Ideas for Families.”
Your content is a resource that helps people manage difficult times with practical advice and suggestions.
6. Heirloom and Memory Preservation Specialist
Preserving family memories is a way of holding onto the past, and you can help people do just that. As an heirloom and memory preservation specialist, your role is to digitize and organize old photos, letters, and other keepsakes.
Here’s how you might offer this service:
- Digitize old photographs, enhancing them where needed and organizing them into online albums.
- Create digital archives for letters, scrapbooks, and home videos, ensuring they’re preserved for generations.
- Offer storytelling services, where you combine photos and memories into a narrated slideshow or video.
Families often have boxes of old memories gathering dust. You help bring them back to life in a way that’s easy to share and keep safe.
7. Funeral Music Playlist Curator
Music plays a fairly good role in memorial services, but choosing the right songs can be challenging. As a playlist curator, you assist families in selecting music that captures the spirit of the deceased.
Here’s what you do:
Consult with families to understand the tone they want: reflective, celebratory, religious, etc.
Create personalized playlists on streaming platforms like Spotify, incorporating specific requests.
Offer themed playlists, like “Classic Hymns,” “Celebration of Life,” or “Favorite 80s Hits,” depending on the person being honored.
The right music can make a service more meaningful, and you provide a thoughtful, tailored selection that resonates.
8. Online Evil Spirit Buster
An unexpected, playful twist to dealing with the afterlife! As an online “evil spirit buster,” you offer humor-infused guidance for those who believe they’re haunted or dealing with negative energies.
Your offerings might include:
Fun online consultations where clients describe their “hauntings,” and you offer practical (and lighthearted) tips to resolve them.
Customized “spirit-busting” kits you sell online, complete with sage, crystals, or humorous instructions.
Story-based content, where you debunk myths or explore historical “hauntings” with a blend of fact and humor.
This is a quirky role for those who enjoy blending lightheartedness with a touch of mystery.
9. Life Experience Flashback Organizer
For those who want to leave behind more than just memories, you offer a service that organizes and presents a client’s life story through a digital platform. As a life experience flashback organizer, you compile milestones, achievements, and treasured moments into one cohesive story.
How this service looks:
Collect life events, stories, and images from clients, organizing them into a narrative timeline or digital scrapbook.
Build personalized websites or interactive digital presentations showcasing the key moments of their life.
Include features like “milestone galleries” or “video montages” for birthdays, anniversaries, or career highlights.
This service allows people to share their life’s highlights in a creative, accessible format, offering something meaningful for family members to treasure.
10. Regret Eliminator
Everyone has regrets, and some can still be acted upon—even later in life. As a regret eliminator, you consult with clients to identify their regrets and help them work on realistic steps to resolve them.
What you might do:
Offer consultations where clients share lingering regrets, and you brainstorm achievable ways to address them.
Create actionable plans: organizing “bucket list” trips, reconnecting with old friends, or learning new skills.
Help clients fulfill unaccomplished goals by connecting them with relevant resources or arranging experiences they missed out on.
It’s never too late to take action, and your service supports clients in making those overdue wishes come true.
These online job ideas cater to both creative and practical needs, allowing retirees to engage in work that connects with the deeply personal themes of life, loss, and legacy. Each idea is rooted in providing value while offering a way to remain active, fulfilled, and connected in the online world.