Gerontology
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, job fields involving gerontology, or the study of aging, are become more diverse and more popular. If you decide to incorporate gerontology into your career, you’re sure to have plenty of opportunities in which to use your knowledge.
You may be wondering, "what is gerontology?" Simply put, gerontology is the study of aging. Gerontologists study the economic, physical, mental and sociological aspects of aging. Sometimes, gerontologists also work in government agencies or other organizations that focus on the elderly.
Those specializing in social gerontology work to help older people keep their freedom and increase their quality of life. Social gerontologists also make themselves available to educate people about the perspective of older citizens on social issues and laws that affect their lives.
Gerontology Careers
Besides becoming a gerontologist, another option for those interested in gerontology careers is to combine gerontology with another profession.
Some examples of industries that can easily be combined with gerontology are:
- finance: If you work in finance, you could become a financial planner or counselor for the elderly. A financial counselor familiar with retirement savings investment would be very helpful to the older population.
- nursing: Gerontology nursing has great growth potential. Nursing homes are currently severely understaffed, and there are always job openings available for those nurses who specialize in caring for the elderly.
- preventive medicine: Helping the aging populace make wise choices in diet and activity levels to help them stay healthy will most likely be an area that managed health care will wish to fund.
- social work: In the near future, the portion of the populace older than 85 years will grow rapidly. These people will need counseling on grief management, care and service planning and illness recovery. They will also require help adjusting to long term care facilities.
Education Needed For Gerontology Careers
If you wish to pursue a career in gerontology itself, you will need to attain at least a master’s degree in the field. This typically costs between $10,000 and $44,000, depending on the type of educational institution you choose. To be accepted into a master's degree program, you must already have a bachelor's degree. However, you can usually expect to make up the cost of your bachelor’s degree within three years with your increased earning power.
The same education requirements hold true for other professions with an emphasis in gerontology. Most require at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Along with traditional university settings, online institutions also offer courses that can be adapted to suit your time constraints. It is, however, important to choose an accredited online institution, as they will provide you with all the instruction you need to be successful in the field of gerontology.