Pardon my ignorance but even if you lost it all, with Social Security and Medicare, what are your monthly expenses, in general, that require you to get a job? I know that rent in a small town is virtually nothing (a few hundred a month?). Maybe moving to a low cost area at 71 is too much of a change? Partially curious about your situation and part about not wanting to get into it myself...
My SS is abysmally low. I live in Ocala, FL, horse capital of the world!!! My expenses including Medicare, Medigap insurance, utilities, etc., etc., etc., run about $1,200 a month - so unfortunately, I do have to work. The company I was invested in filed for bankruptcy after the Federal Government decided to look into them. Millions more than me including some of the best educated people (in the financial world) in the country lost their shirts - not that that makes me feel any better.
Only "growth" industries being govt., eldercare &drugs
the number of personal & corp. bankruptcies
stock market returns vs. interest rates
housing cost as a% of moly income
the ridiculous cost of a 4 year degree
job/career prospects for a recent coll. grad
the absense of personal accountability
the lack of business ethics/accountability
etc