The varied needs of older persons lead to exciting opportunities for working side by side with professionals from other disciplines. A service provider may coordinate information from housing agencies, lawyers, transportation providers, nurses, and family counselors. A health professional might serve on a health care team providing hospital care, day care, or home care to older persons. An educator might teach a course on work and retirement to students from several university departments. A researcher might study the relationships between the maintenance of friendship networks and the mental and physical health of older persons.
Aging affects all of usnot only as individuals, but also as a society. Populations
are aging worldwide. People are living longer, and the number of older persons is
increasing. People born today can expect to live beyond their 75th year. By the middle
of the 21st century, one in five Americans will be over 65, and there will be 15 to
18 million persons over the age of 85.
These growth trends will result in a demand for professionals with knowledge and expertise
in aging. Expanded career opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics are forecast
in many disciplines and professions. The field of aging is very diverse, offering
many different employment opportunities. Here are some examples:
Be sure to visit the Center for Career Development and Internships for job search information and career advice.
