Vita Needle, a company based in Needham, Massachusetts, has a remarkable and very successful employment policy: it only hires elderly staff members. The average age of its staff of thirty-five is 73 and the company has no fixed retirement age.

The unique people in the film talk about the joy of learning new things, about solidarity, and their ability to give meaning to the last phase of life. President Fred Hartman says "they can continue to work here as long as they can walk the stairs. Older people are flexible, they like to work part-time and are very motivated." Most work twenty to twenty-five hours per week and schedule their work week themselves. No one has ever been fired and all employees share in the profits.

Rosa, 89 years old, wets needles, places them on holders and packages them. She does not work for the money but to keep herself occupied. Joe, in his seventies, started a consultancy firm after his retirement, but ran into such fierce competition that he prefers to be an employee. Executive secretary Mary, 79 years old, arrives at 4:30 am every day to open the office. This heart-warming film affirms the potential of older adults to continue to be productive.

"It is directly applicable to gerontology classes because it will stimulate discussion on work and retirement...The cumulative impact of the video suggests that older adults are still vital and capable and will use the work environment to enhance the quality of their lives through socialization and making an ongoing contribution to society." The Gerontologist

Silver images Film and Video Festval, 2005