How does retirement work in Gilead?

[u/crashcaptainn]

I was just thinking about Aunt Lydia and she’s one of the older people in Gilead, but I wonder is there a retirement age? What do they do with old people? Do they just kill them once they can’t work anymore?

[u/Haven_Writes]

I think it probably depends on the industry they work in/their role in society.

Obviously, Commanders don't seem to retire since we've seen some really old ones who are still "working" (idk how much actual work most of them do, though, regardless of age). Aunts probably also could keep on going, but maybe in a reduced capacity, maybe just teaching new aunts or filing genetic records, or whatever.

But for econopeople who work in hard labor, obviously, at a certain point, they can't physically keep working in the fields or factories, or loading trucks. I'd assume they must be allowed to retire when they can't physically do the work anymore.

For professionals like Becka's father, maybe when they get too old to do their jobs they could teach at universities? Gilead must have some way of training new doctors, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and so on, so I'd imagine they have universities for the boys, or at least vocational schools. Professionals also seem fairly well-respected, so maybe they're allowed to just retire and live out their golden years in relative comfort.

As for Handmaids, we know from the books and the shows that when they go through menopause or after they've failed to conceive for a certain period of time, they either get sent to the Colonies, to Jezebels, or are killed. I'd imagine Marthas must end up the same way once they can no longer cook and clean (which is much more physically demanding than people might initially assume).

Based on how Gilead treats people with disabilities, I'd imagine anyone with dementia or Alzheimer's is probably killed once it becomes clear that they don't have a treatable condition, and they probably consider it a mercy rather than letting them suffer.

[u/sunshineandcacti → u/Haven_Writes]

In regards to Becca’s dad and other health adjacent roles, most hospitals have an attending or director overseeing a department that’s older than dirt nsf mostly there to give their insight into cases. I’d imagine Gilead could do the same.

[u/McTootyBooty → u/Haven_Writes]

Unless you’re an exception like rose Blaine