Young nurse with older woman

Opportunities & Resources

Careers in Gerontology

As a diverse field, aging offers many varied employment opportunities. Some positions involve educational, recreational, and volunteer activities for healthy, active seniors. Working with less active, older adults might relate to health or social service delivery. As a relatively new area, gerontology has ample room for innovative ideas, products, and services.

Job growth in gerontology-related areas is expected to increase 40 percent by 2012. Over the coming decades, workers will continue to be needed for the growing ranks of aging baby boomers and other older adults.

Critical shortages are expected in certain occupations, such as geriatric nursing and geriatrics, the field of medicine specializing in the treatment of older adults.

Career settings include:
hospitals, financial agencies, home health care agencies, long-term care facilities, senior centers, recreational facilities, government agencies, universities, and area planning agencies.

Work activities include:
administration, planning, research, delivery of services such as health and housing, program development, product design, marketing, and providing counseling in such areas as retirement, loss, and finances.

Job titles include:
service provider, health professional, advocate, educator, researcher, personal trainer, and geriatric case manager, dietician, or social worker.