Career Paths and Ladders in Gerontology and Geriatrics

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Career Paths and Ladders in Gerontology and
Geriatrics

• Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D.,FGSA, FAGHE
• Director Geriatric Education and Research
• University of New England
• College of Osteopathic Medicine
• May 23, 2007

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Goal

• Create the foundation for thinking about career
  paths and jobs in aging related fields
• Social
• Health
• Education
• Service
• And any combinations or inadvertent omissions

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Objectives

• Begin to chart the course for aging related jobs
  and careers
• Share pearls of wisdom to think about in relation
  to jobs in the aging field
• Provide resources

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Gerontology

• Study of aging process and individuals as they
  grow from midlife through later life
• The study of physical, mental and social changes
• The investigation of the changes in society
  resulting from our aging population
• The application of this knowledge to policies and
  programs

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Geriatrics

• The study of health and disease in later life
• The comprehensive health care of older persons
• The well-being of their informal caregivers

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Aging Demographics

• Every 76 seconds someone turns 50 y/o.
• Fastest growing segment 85 y/o ? 401
• 20 of the population will be over 65 y/o (2030)
• 34 million now
• 69 million 2030
• 80 million 2050
• America Population ? 50 overall
• But those 65 ? 135

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Aging Demographics

• 50 of Maines 65 y/o live with a parent
• 1 of 65-74 y/o live in a nursing home 5 of
  75-84 y/o 15 for 85
• 2005 ½ of the US workforce was over 40 y/o

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Work Force Demographics

• By 2011, the first wave of Boomers will be
  eligible to retire
• Boomers will exit the workforce until 2030
• Ratio for Working age Retirement age will
  change from 41 to 26
• Working age population will increase to 5.7
• Retirement age population will increase to 66

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Societys Construction of Aging
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Aging Related Jobs are Abundant
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Heterogeneity in Aging

• The period between the ages of 65 and 105, a full
  40 years, represents a significant portion of
  ones lifespan.
• Health care providers would never consider
  equating the health care needs of a newborn with
  the needs of a person in early-middle age, both
  members of the cohort of the first 40 years of
  life.
• As services for older adults are explored, also
  potentially spanning 4 decades, we must
  anticipate and appreciate the developmental,
  biological, psychosocial, and functional
  diversity.
• Young, H. (2003) Challenges and Solutions for
  care of frail older adults. Online Journal of
  Issues in Nursing 84, pp1-22 (wwww.nursingworld.o
  rg/ojin/topic21/tpc21_4.htm)

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A Place for Elders?
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Careers/Jobs and The Aging Field
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Is it Time for a Change?

• According to the US Department of Labor
  individuals will change careers 3-7 times in
  their lives.
• Those aged 18-38 make an average of 10 job
  changes!

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The Health Workforce US Dept of Labor

• During the decade ending in 2012
• 7 of the top 10 fastest growing occupations will
  be in direct healthcare fields
• 3 remaining information systems and software
  application relevant to health care
• Health Care practitioners and Technical
  Occupations ?26 (1.7 million persons)

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Up and Coming Jobs

• Medical Assistants (59)
• Network systems and data communications analysis
  (57)
• Physician Assistants (49)
• Social and Human Service Assistants (49)
• Medical Records and Health Information Techs
  (47)
• Physical Therapy Assistants (45)

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Advanced Organizers for Career Paths and Ladders

• Personal Inventory
• Whats Important to You in a Job?
• Test of Career Marketability for Job Seekers

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Communication
7 Words
38 Voice Tone
55 Body Language
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Stump the Panel and Discussion