Careers in Aging
According to the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics, the elderly population in the U.S. is expected to more than double by the year 2050. By 2030, as many as one in five people could be age 65 or older.
The fastest growing age group among the elderly are those 85 years of age and older. An estimated 2% of the current U.S. population is in this age group. By 2050, seniors 85 and older are expected to comprise 5% of the U.S. population. Racial and ethnic diversity among seniors is increasing as well.
All of these factors and more give rise to a burgeoning need for a variety of services tailored for the elderly and a workforce that is knowledgeable about aging and the needs of older adults. Opportunities exist in numerous fields: medicine, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, social work, mental health care, human services, housing, financial planning, law, adult education, long term care/assisted living, travel and leisure, and exercise physiology.
Career Resources
The links below provide information about career opportunities working with older adults:
- AgeWork.com: “A doorway to aging-related jobs,” sponsored by the Gerontological Society of America, AGHE, and the National Academy on an Aging Society.
- Careers In Aging: From the website for the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE)
- Exploring Careers in Aging
- gerontologistjobs.com: Produced by Health Care Job Store, Inc., this site contains salary information, resume help, assistance finding health care recruiters, etc.
- www.netlibrary.com/: A link to NetLibrary’s listing of Opportunities in Gerontology and Aging Services Careers, a book by Ellen Williams, which can be purchased online.