How old is too old to have to look for a job?

I already know of a few people in the USA who have had to postpone their retirement because their 401(k) has gone south. 

Now, from a deeply disturbing article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal:

"Mary Appleby, 76 years old, lost her job in January as a cashier at a courthouse cafeteria here. She is now looking for minimum-wage work."

"Mary Bennett, 80, began filling out applications for fast-food restaurants and convenience stores after she was laid off last March as a machinist."

"Fred Dase, 81, a bartender until last summer, also needs another job."

"Dorothy Adams, 90, who raised six sons, had been a waitress. She quit at age 85 because of the physical demands. She couldn't make it on $8,000 a year in Social Security and $1,140 in food stamps, so she enrolled in an Experience Works training program in central Pennsylvania."

Expect to hear more of it.

Sad.  Very sad.