There was a time when young people made up the majority of the population in the United States. That has changed. Older people are now catching up with the statistics. By the year 2030, 21 percent of the population in the United States will be comprised of men and women age 65 years and up.
Due to these statistics, careers in gerontology are slowly making a marked increase as the career of choice for many individuals. The breadth of careers available in this field means that people with all kinds of backgrounds are interested in working in gerontology.
An individual studying medicine can specialize in gerontology or a nursing student may take online classes to obtain a geriatric nursing degree. If aging research and elderly health interest you, you may want to consider a career as a gerontologist. Here are some facts about gerontologists and the various jobs in gerontology to help you learn more about the field and decide if this career is right for you.
What is gerontology?
Gerontology is the study and focus on the aging process, beginning at middle age (approximately age 50) and extending later into life. This is not to be mistaken with geriatrics, which focuses on studying the diseases that affect the elderly.
Gerontology doesn’t only focus on the physical changes that take place in people as they age but also investigates the social and mental alterations that occur. There are many sub-fields of gerontology, which allow students to major in such fields as psychology, medicine, nursing or sociology.
What exactly is explored about the aging process?
The natural progression of life is explored during the aging process. The physical, mental and social aspects of aging are researched and investigated. Things such as how society views the aged and how aging plays a role in government policies and programs are studied during this process.
In Japan, senior citizens dramatically outnumber younger Japanese citizens. To address this, the government continues to take steps to engage the elderly into economic activities so that they won’t feel neglected. Seniors are given the chance to be productive and contributing members of society. These methods of including the aging population have been implemented in the United States.
Why should gerontology spark an interest in you?
Simply because there is a longer life expectancy now than before—people used to live only until age 65. It is expected that millions of people will live beyond 85 years old because of the better quality of life that they experience. As a result, these people will need care and attention as they age.
What makes for an ideal gerontologist?
An ideal candidate for a gerontology career has an innate care for the aged population. Candidates should not see the job as simply a paycheck but rather doing something they love to do. A gerontologist should be soft-spoken yet firm, be easy to get along with, adaptable to change, and gentle in nature.
Gerontologists can make an impact in the lives of the aged by rallying community and government to their side and looking at aging from a fresh perspective. Focused attention may be given to health care, pensions, insurance, continuing education and job opportunities.
What kind of work do gerontologists do?
Gerontologists work in varied jobs and diverse fields. Students studying psychology, sociology or nursing all have options on which field of gerontology to pursue. Many students actively pursue their passions and are able to due to the wide options available within the career.
Here are some of the different types of careers in gerontology:
- Retirement homes, as recreational and leisure activities planner – this career requires at least an associate’s degree. The average salary is $15 an hour.
- Long-term care and nursing home supervisors – this career requires an associate’s degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in business, nursing or health care administration. The average salary is $45,000 per year.
- Researcher – researchers often work for corporations to develop products for the elderly or for academic institutions that study aging.
- Educator – educators are those who work with the elderly teaching them life skills or are teachers and professors who teach students about gerontology. The average salary is $39,000 per year.
- Counselor - counselors who work with the elderly need a master’s degree in mental health counseling or psychology. The average wage is approximately $39,000 per year. These people work in nursing homes or respite care facilities.
Is gerontology offered as a degree?
Yes, students may choose from all educational levels and degree choices such as an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate or post-doctorate degree. Gerontology related majors also include healthcare administration, psychology, sociology, nursing and adult basic education.
Students may begin volunteering their time at any stage of their educational career to serving the aged.
What is the job outlook of gerontology careers?
The job outlook for workers in the gerontology field is highly favorable over the next decade as the numbers in the aging community rises. Statistics issued from the Bureau of Labor state that over 22% growth for all occupations in gerontology is expected. Jobs are expanding and growing in such facilities as hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes, retirement communities and rehabilitation centers.