My dad is in the same spot as yours – he’s been working steadily as a technology consultant for 30 years, and now he’s been out of work for a year and a half. He spends several hours a day making calls and looking for jobs, but there just aren’t any jobs out there…
I think @VS is right – if your dad can throw himself into looking for other ways to make money, it’ll give himself something to stay occupied, and it’ll make him feel like he’s actually accomplished something. That’s the biggest problem that my dad has – he’s been useful and productive for the last 30 years, and now he feels like he’s totally useless. Volunteering is definitely another good way to feel useful, but I know from experience that when you’re not making any money, even the smallest income can make you feel so much better…
As for me, since my husband’s job is pretty stable, I’ve been spending a lot of my time helping all of my unemployed family and friends find ways to make more money for themselves. I put together a website to help my dad market his consulting firm, I helped my mom and sister put their crafts on Etsy – it makes me feel a lot more useful to be helping them get back on their feet, rather than just watching them struggle…
Good luck to your dad – I hope things get better for him soon!