Why You Should Pursue a Career in Gerontology
Are you considering a career in social services? One area that’s attracting more attention in the field is gerontology. Studies estimate that by the year 2030, a third of the population will be at retirement age. With a growing demographic of elderly people, opportunities will multiply for careers in gerontology and service-related fields that assist senior citizens.The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of jobs for gerontology specialists and other social services that are dedicated to health care and other support for aging Americans has already grown by more than 25 percent in the last few years. Furthermore, jobs in the social services sector in general will continue to grow faster than the average for other occupations. To understand more about how you can prepare for a job working in gerontology, click here to learn about earning a master’s in human services online.
Assist Whole Families
One of the most satisfying points in favor careers in gerontology is that when you’re helping an older person, you’re not only assisting that individual but helping his or her entire family. For many families, it’s difficult to meet the changing needs of an elder member of the family, especially if family members don’t live in the same city. Support services, from finding information about assisted living or home care solutions to mental health counseling, transportation options and assessing additional needs, not only help address the immediate concerns of the person in question but also take some of the pressure off of the person’s family.Find Jobs Across Several Industries
Though we use a blanket term of “gerontology” to describe the fields that help senior citizens, there are many possibilities within the general career path.A social worker who has specialized in gerontology will have options in a number of industries, in addition to working for public agencies. Hospitals, intensive care facilities, even businesses dedicated to travel and tourism, will need to adapt their services to an older demographic in the future. Even product design and the leisure industry will need to have a more developed and strategic approach to elderly customers in the future. For example, a consulting gerontologist might be able to help architects of a new hotel design the floor plan for elderly people or give a cruise ship direction in preparing nutrition that’s better for their guests. They might even be integral in helping a family decide the right time to hire a care assistant.
Transition From a Previous Career
Because there are so many different possibilities for a career in human services that’s dedicated to assisting senior citizens, many different skill sets are needed to round out the team of careers, counselors and other people who work with a particular individual. This makes social work in general, and gerontology in particular, a good choice for a second career. Transitioning into gerontology or social work related to aging gives a unique chance for individuals to use the skills and experience derived from a previous career path and apply them to a new situation.Be Challenged
Another compelling reason to work with senior citizens and on the issues facing older generations is that it is challenging work.The aging process is still not fully understood, and diseases that affect the aged, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, remain difficult for senior citizens and their loved ones to prepare for. In particular, gerontologists need to take a holistic view toward their work in order to best help their clients or patients.
Specialists need to be sensitive to the emotional, cultural and societal pressures that are placed upon senior citizens and their families. This is extremely important in families that immigrated to the United States in the last generation. Though the family members may often seem — or feel themselves to be — integrated into mainstream culture, the pressures of cultural expectations from their country of origin in combination with the realities of maintaining a multi-generational home when all the adults in the family are working full-time. When English is not the primary language of the home, it can be quite challenging to negotiate between parties.
Gerontology is a rewarding career that is going to see significant growth in the next decades. If you are already considering a career in social work, gerontology might be the best specialization for you.
