Yeah this does exist/happen to some extent. My partners father retired young (40's) and spent a bunch of years kicking around doing odd little jobs. The issue for many employers is that people in these situations don't really NEED the jobs so they are less likely to stick around late or put up with any bullshit which many jobs contain plenty of.

This is just antidotal evidence of seeing my partners dad say yeah fuck that job after 6 months.

So much this.

Everyone gets old. How can we not want a society that would take care of them, including some form of worthwhile employment?

It is an inherently selfish setup as one day you too will be old.

Edit: trying to clarify my thoughts/point.

NHK US is filled with shows of retirees still doing their old jobs as hobbies. Several episodes involve repairing and running trains/tracks/stations on weekends for tourists.

But what kind of thing do you have in mind? Afaik actually taking care of old people is backbreaking work, probably not suitable for most retirees.

Well, that's the trick. I mean there are obviously a lot of details and varying conditions and possibilities.

But that doesn't mean they are all useless and should be in an old folks home.

To more directly answer your question.

Old people don't have to take care of even older people. I mean the whole point is to NOT cut them off from the rest of society.

It needs a social component and simplicity. However, simpler tasks are often more easily automated and people generally avoid social interaction it seems.

I get the feeling that people would rather a hot coffee vending machine than talking to ol' Carol or Bob at the mom & pop cafe.

Some random ideas: - Working the coffee shop on the ground floor of the corporate building. - corporate internal mail - storytime Reader at the local library - non-profit business pushbike/skateboard/scooter store - campus bus service