Failure to follow the rules in punished by excommunication. The Rewards of a Long Past Age is highly valued in Amish culture, not only because of their interpretation of the Bible but also because of their reverence for the past. Since older people have the most past, they have great value. A typical Amish grandparent lives with a married child and within a few miles of at least 5 other children and 30 grandchildren. This arrangement allows for daily contact but also for some independence.
Older women keep house, quilt, sew, cook, garden, and sometimes serve as informal historians.
Men work in the fields, make toys for grandchildren, or go to horse sales when they choose. Retirement comes slowly to the Amish. Sometimes between age 50 and 70, most older couples transfer title to their farm or business to married children and start to reduce their own workloads. The older couple might spend several years helping their heirs get settled. Happily, using a horse and buggy for transportation means the Amish are spared decisions about giving up their driver's license.