Questions About a Career in Aging
What are the Advantages of a Gerontology Career?
- Current need: There is a shortage of professionals with specialized knowledge about aging and older people.
- Long-term job security: The older population in the US will increase from about 15% in 2014 to 25% by 2060.
- Career Variety: A career in gerontology provides a broad array of work settings and position options.
- Career flexibility: The broad array of work settings and positions in the field of aging allow gerontologists to change positions as their personal and family responsibilities change or earn additional degrees.
- Career longevity: Being older and experiencing aging provides an insider perspective on what being older means, which is an advantage when seeking employment or promotions.
What is the Field of Aging?
The field of aging encompasses:
- Agencies, institutions, and organizations that serve older clients and patients,
- All business sectors that serve or target older consumers, clients, and patients,
- All types of housing that are designated for older people and adults with disabilities.
The field of aging is multidisciplinary and employs a broad array of professionals:
- Specialized professionals with knowledge about aging and experience with older people:
- Clinical disciplines (geriatricians, geriatrics specialists, geriatrics nurses, geriatrics therapists, etc.),
- Nonclinical disciplines (gerontologists, applied geropsychologist, etc.).
- Generalized professionals with general knowledge about people of all ages:
- Clinical disciplines (clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, physical therapists, etc.),
- Nonclinical (administrators, public health, applied social works, human services, etc.),
- Multidisciplinary professionals with degrees, certificates, or licenses in more than one discipline.
What is the Older Americans Act of 1965?
The Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965 established and funded the Administration on Aging, the Aging Network, and programs for older adults (ages 60+):
- Access Services, including information and referral, outreach, transportation, and case management,
- Community Services at senior centers, health promotion and fitness programs, adult day programs, low-cost meals, elder abuse prevention, advocacy in long-term care settings, legal services, and beginning at age 55, employment assistance,
- Family Caregiver Services such as educational programs, counseling, and respite programs for caregivers,
- In-Home Services such as personal care, meals, rehabilitation, housework, home repairs, chores, and errands.