I'm 72 years old, healthy, retired for 5 years and completely bored with my life — I want to go back to work but no one wants to hire me because of my age. What can I do?

Work for yourself

If you're more interested in working as a retiree to find purpose rather than to get a paycheck, this may be a good time to explore entrepreneurship. When you aren't dependent on wages to support your family, you can take more time to become profitable and can work in a field you're passionate about even if the pay isn't great.

Try to find a low-cost business opportunity that plays to your skills. Consider things like babysitting, serving as a personal chef, freelance writing, dog walking, pet sitting or tutoring. These opportunities could provide a good work-life balance, as well as the chance to turn hobbies you enjoy into a paying gig.

There are lots of online apps you can sign up for to jumpstart your efforts — or you can learn to create a basic website and advertise in some local groups to find customers.

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Volunteer your time

Volunteering is another way to fill your time and potentially get your foot in the door at organizations that might hire you.

You could meet other professionals while doing volunteer work that may know of opportunities for you. Some charitable organization also offer paid positions, and depending on the type of work you do, they may be willing to bring you on if there's an opening.

If that doesn't pan out, volunteer work would still help you bring your resume up to date if you have a job gap after retiring. And, you may just decide you prefer to give your time for free for a cause you care about rather than joining the corporate grind — especially if you have plenty of retirement savings.

Build your network

Finding employment might be easier if you expand your network of contacts. If you're familiar with a person or company that's hiring, you may have a better shot at landing a paid position.

Online tools like LinkedIn can help, or you can find out if any professional groups operate in your area. You can also reach out to past employers or old co-workers to see if they have any leads.

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Know the law

Finally, you should know the laws. Age discrimination is prohibited under The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). If you're aged 40 and up and a company treats you in a discriminatory way due to your age, you may be able to file a charge.

By following these tips, hopefully you can find something that gives meaning and purpose to your days. After all, you only get one retirement and you deserve to enjoy it.