There are so many opportunities to work in aging fields and ways to incorporate an aging lens in many areas of work. Careers in aging continue to expand as our older adult population continues to grow.
Why Work With Older Adults?
Population aging increased the need for more trained professionals (e.g., lawyers, psychologists, and social workers) to work with older adults effectively. The demographic shift also engendered many job opportunities in aging. There are multiple ways you can engage with older adults, such as through advocacy, research, clinical, and non-clinical practice.
Unfortunately, ageism may deter people from developing an interest in working with older adults. In contrast with the myth that older adults are all vulnerable and frail, older adults are very diverse in their physical health, mental health, and functional status. Structural factors such as community environment, social-economic status, and experiences with discrimination contribute to variations of health and well-being together with individuals’ health beliefs and behavior. Therefore, it can be a very rewarding experience learning from older adults’ diverse perspectives, life experiences, and wisdom.
Career Options in the Field of Aging
Now that we addressed the need and value of working with older adults, let’s take a closer look at some possible career options in the field of aging. The American Psychological Association (APA) provided a comprehensive overview of direct practice and research opportunities in the field of aging and how you can prepare yourself for careers in aging. The APA also created a roadmap for undergraduate and graduate students to explore aging careers here:https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/careers/index.The Office of Geriatrics and Interprofessional Aging Studies also lists platforms to search for career opportunities in the field of aging.
What kind of career in aging might be of interest to you?
If you are interested in advancing your knowledge and skills of working with older adults to the next level, you might consider enrolling in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Aging coordinated by the Office of Geriatrics and Interprofessional Aging Studies.
Check out this link from The Gerontological Society of America to listen to podcasts on “The Real Faces of Aging” from diverse professionals across the continuum:
https://www.geron.org/programs-services/podcasts/the-real-faces-of-careers-in-aging
Finally, this link looks at the Workforce Shortage Data:
https://leadingage.org/sites/default/files/LA_Workforce_Infographics_FULLPAGE%202%2020.pdf