Health and Finance Options for the 60-Year-Old Firefighter

VOLUNTEERS CORNER ❘ By NICHOLAS F. NANNA

The diminishing number of volunteer firefighters in the United States is certainly no longer a news flash, but it is long past becoming a crisis. Although there are more than 750,000 volunteers in the nation, making up 67% of all firefighters, what is less publicized is the rapid aging of the force: 53% of volunteers are 40 years old or older, and an astonishing 9% of these are older than 60!

Although the health of older Americans has improved over the past several decades, it is still a challenge to manage these more senior firefighters to preserve their ability to contribute to their communities’ safety while still maintaining their well-being, physical ability, and financial stability. Personal experience has demonstrated that, although the older firefighters can still do the job and many still want to be involved, it takes more significant personal effort to retain the ability to be fully functional on the fireground. The department and community need to partner in a holistic approach to maintain these irreplaceable assets. This article discusses the challenges in preserving firefighting ability in older firefighters.

Older Firefighters

Older firefighters face different challenges than 20-something fire recruits. Everything from eyesight to reflexes to muscular strength begins to degrade as we see the backside of 60. Chronic diseases also often start to appear in older citizens. Years of sedentary lifestyles and questionable nutrition begin to take a toll on cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength. The challenges of extended family reemerge, as the “empty nest” period is replaced with the joys of grandchildren.

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Financial issues can also appear as retirement approaches. Although retired citizens may have more time to volunteer, changes in Social Security, retirement plans, and personal savings will impact the quality of life for older firefighters.

Many older firefighters went through initial fire training more than 20 years ago. Often, there was no formal firefighter training; the “train your buddy” type of formal training was a primary teaching “academy.” There was a time when you were issued your equipment and told, “Hang with Joe. He will show you the ropes.” However, we all know that things have changed in an ever more technical and mentally challenging avocation. Following is a review of each of these areas.

Health

First and foremost, if you are still smoking, STOP! Although congratulations might be in order inasmuch that you have beaten the odds for the past four decades, the odds are adding up against you daily. There is no single health action that you can take to have a more significant positive impact than quitting smoking.

Next, if your department does not require an annual physical, with a stress test electrocardiogram (EKG) and full bloodwork, invest in yourself and get this done. National Fire Protection Association 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments, recommends the minimum type of physical you should take. These exams are a function that the department or community should provide to older firefighters. This type of annual screening, along with a follow-up with a physician, protects the older members and the community. Early discovery of an issue is essential, and a signed physician clearance to engage in strenuous activity is the basis for continuing active firefighting.

I highly recommended getting the vaccinations for diseases that can impact older firefighters. In the age of COVID-19, getting the current flu shot is vital, as are the shots for shingles and pneumonia, since the heat and stress of active firefighting can exacerbate any underlying issues. If not physically prevented from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, older members should consider taking it with their physician’s advice. The single greatest protection to older firefighters in the COVID-19 world of today is to take the vaccine and be aware of any booster shots that might be developed.

Many older firefighters find themselves behind the wheel of the engine, ambulance, or tanker/tender with decreasing eyesight. As we age, our eyesight changes; we first notice with reading, but that progresses to night and peripheral vision. An annual examination to determine eye health and vision, along with adjustments to eyeglass prescriptions (to include prescription sunglasses) and for nighttime driving or driving in inclement weather, are subjects for the eye doctor.

It might seem out of place to discuss sleep in a job where the tones drop at 0300 hours, but it is vital to get enough quality rest at night. When it is available, plan to get at least seven to eight hours of quality sleep. Older members occasionally develop sleep issues, and any chronic issues are also worthy of a call to the primary care doctor. The good news is that, if retired, older firefighters have the opportunity to “sleep in.”

We also need to consider diet as we get older. The best prescription for health has always been a well-balanced diet. It is difficult to exercise out bad calories, so we must look at the fuel we use to power our activities. Discuss proper balance, regular hours, and any supplements with your doctor or a nutritionist.

Fitness

As we get older, we become slower and less powerful. It is more work to maintain muscle mass. Our joints hurt more, and we are often stiff or sore, especially early in the morning and late at night. Firefighting requires strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. As we age, it is more challenging to maintain this “three-legged stool” of ability. Although we may have been fit when we were younger, the years work against us, and we need to adjust our fitness regimen. For many older firefighters, it isn’t only the years, it is, as they say, “the mileage.”

Flexibility also decreases as we age. So, concentrate on stretching programs to maintain your ability to function on air in confined spaces. Yoga classes for older citizens are also a good option for a flexibility program. In addition to these programs, it is important to stretch when coming on duty. There will not be time to stretch out when the tones drop. Including muscular stretches, work on the range of motion to maintain reach and grasp.

Aging also means that it will be more difficult to maintain lean muscle mass. A variety of physical and chemical changes to our body make it more difficult to maintain our physical strength. As we lose muscle mass, we tend to increase fat. We can keep the same weight, but our body composition changes. This change is a double-edged sword: We have less strength, but we are also hauling around more useless weight.

A strength training program is another benefit that departments can offer to members, whether providing subsidized memberships at local gyms or workout space in the department’s facility. Bodyweight training such as push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, and other exercises can be done with limited equipment. A set of pull-up bars takes up little space in a doorway; being able to lift and move our body weight is a health and personal safety issue.

Cardiovascular health is challenged when working under stress and is incredibly demanding when working on air. Programs that include endurance—distance running and short-distance sprints—are necessary to build up the ability to manage cardio stress. Fartlek courses, which include built-in run, walk, sprint, and walk again segments, are excellent tools for building and maintaining endurance. Those who suffer from arthritis or joint pain can substitute bike riding for some of the running issues. Another alternative is rowing machines, which have excellent all-around fitness advantages and can be less impactful on the knees. If available, consider swimming as a good nonweight-bearing form of exercise.

Key safety note: In starting any program, the previously mentioned physical is a must, and buying quality running shoes is also an important investment. Get your doctor’s guidance and approval before starting any regimen of diet and exercise.

Financial Health

As we approach retirement, we may find ourselves with more time on our hands. This can be an excellent time to volunteer, especially during the day, when younger members are still at their day jobs. To have the time to answer the calls, ensure that you are fiscally sound. In addition to your Social Security and other retirement plans, you may need to work a part-time job. This period is an excellent opportunity to consider “paid-on-call” services. A small stipend older firefighters receive for calls answered is far cheaper for the department than hiring salaried firefighters and will provide that “grocery money” to older firefighters that can stretch out those savings and other monthly incomes—an investment well spent. In addition, home businesses and other moneymaking opportunities can supplement your retirement while you stay available for those important daytime runs.

Departments can consider looking for financial planners who might be willing to help in retirement planning. Although these planners are looking for new clients, explaining the situation to them and ensuring that there is no “hard sell” in the presentation can establish mutually acceptable ground rules. As we approach our later work years, remember that there are “catch up” provisions to our retirement plans; as the kids leave the nest, it might be possible to make some of these additional payments using funds from expired tuition payments.

Although it might be late to consider retirement plans, it is never too late to save for yourself. Length-of-service plans are excellent retention tools for communities to keep their members and recruit new, older members. A monthly amount credited for each year of service paid after a certain age, such as 60 or 62 years, and then vested after five years might not mean much to the 20-something member. Still, as we get closer to those ages, these plans can pay for a bill or two and are welcome additions to our monthly balance sheet.

Having a budget and sticking to it can ensure you mete out your spending so you do not outlive your savings. Plans we might have entered in our 20s and 30s may not have considered the current human lifespan. Most banks and credit unions can provide this service for free to their depositors and members.

Part of fiscal health includes consideration of insurance, both life and health. Protect yourself against illness and injuries, especially while engaged in active fire and emergency medical services (EMS) activities. If you no longer have access to your employer’s health insurance, look into other plans. Communities can investigate buying into state or local health plans and allow all firefighters to buy at what might be a lower cost than commercially available policies. Once we reach Medicare age, purchasing a supplement plan is a serious consideration. Again, departments and communities should consider assisting the older members in accessing available Medicare supplements.

Communities should also provide life insurance to their firefighters. Policies must cover the equivalent of at least one or two years of what was once salary. Line-of-duty deaths have additional benefits for the families of the fallen. Whole-life policies can supplement what the community provides, and because every family has different needs, it would be difficult to suggest a total amount of coverage. Remind older members to shop around for rates and to understand that coverage gets more expensive as the birthdays add up.

Training

The theories of firefighting are continually changing. New concepts such as airflow management and transitional attack change the science of firefighting. Some of our older members from the “three-quarter boot” and “rubber coat” days might resist retraining with the old saying that they have been doing this job for 30 years. We might reply that they have been doing it wrong for 29!

EMS is now a critical skill in the community. It was only a couple of decades ago when EMS was provided by fire and rescue squads. The old “scoop and scoot” days of loading the sick and injured into a minimally equipped ambulance have been replaced by prehospital care. Older firefighters/EMTs may need some training in this new world, but they also bring a lifetime of experience and possibly an improved sense of empathy to patient care.

Updating training to new tools and techniques goes “hand in glove” with hands-on training on “bread-and-butter” evolutions. Maintaining proficiency is vital, especially in departments that might have limited initial response. Training is also an area where the older firefighters can contribute to the newer members by serving as training officers. Their experience can combine with modern firefighting science and tools to enhance the younger members’ learning. Regardless of how we approach it, the older firefighters need to be open to learning and updating their training.

Volunteer fire and EMS departments are challenged by declining membership and inclining age. As we develop new recruiting and retention approaches to the next generation of firefighters, we need to maximize the members we have, including extending our senior members’ service lives. As health care improves our longevity, we can expand our years of service to our communities with proper preparation and planning.

NICHOLAS F. NANNA is a 43-year volunteer fire service veteran and the chief of the Dumfries Triangle (VA) Volunteer Fire Department. He is a retired United States Marine Corps colonel, a certified fire officer, and a former member of the Mount Vernon (NY) and Danbury (CT) Volunteer Fire Departments. He is a doctoral candidate in public administration.