Careers in Aging

1. Careers in Aging Neil Charness Florida State University 2013 Material from http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/index.html http://www.aghe.org/clientimages/40634/careersinaging_brochure.pdf

2. What is Gerontology? Geriatrics? • Aging is a multidisciplinary field. This means that the study of aging combines or integrates information from several separate areas of study. Biology, sociology, and psychology are the "core" or basic areas, along with content from many other areas of study such as public policy, humanities, and economics. • Gerontology is the study of the aging processes and individuals as they grow from middle age through later life. It includes: • the study of physical, mental, and social changes in older people as they age • the investigation of the changes in society resulting from our aging population • the application of this knowledge to policies and programs. As a result of the multidisciplinary focus of gerontology, professionals from diverse fields call themselves "gerontologists"

3. Gerontology/Geriatrics • Geriatrics focuses on: • the study of health and disease in later life • the comprehensive health care of older persons and the well-being of their informal caregiver

4. Is Aging the Field for You? • Are interested in improving the lives of older people? • Are you interested in knowing more about your own aging and the changes to expect in your family members as they grow older? • Talk with professionals and students in the field. Discuss your future plans with your academic advisor. • Our success in responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by an aging population will depend on the dedication of those who choose to work in the field of aging. • We hope that you will join us!

5. Where Do Professionals in Aging Work? • Community, human service, and religious organizations • Health care and long-term care institutions • Federal, state, and local government agencies, including the aging network (service delivery to older persons established by a federal law entitled the Older Americans Act) • Retirement communities • Academic, educational, and research settings • Professional organizations • Business and industry

6. Professionals Working Directly • Developing programs such as health promotion, senior theater groups, or intergenerational activities for older persons in senior centers, community agencies, or retirement communities • Providing direct care to frail, ill, or impaired older persons in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or through adult day care or home care programs • Counseling older persons and their families about issues of caregiving, employment, death and dying, or mental health • Advising older clients about estate planning and investments, financing long-term care, or housing options.

7. Professionals Working Indirectly • Conducting research on the aging processes and diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer's disease or osteoporosis • Analyzing issues related to older persons such as retirement opportunities, income maintenance, the health care system, and housing alternatives • Planning, administering, and evaluating community-based services and service delivery systems • Teaching courses on aging to college and university students, health care professionals, and older adults • Advocating with or on behalf of older persons before legislative bodies or in institutional settings • Designing products to meet the special interests and needs of older persons • Advising business, industry, and labor regarding older workers and consumers.

8. How Do You Become a Professional in Aging? • Some students choose aging as a specialty area within one of the traditional disciplines or professions • anthropology, architecture, biology, political science, psychology, sociology, medicine, nursing, social work, health-related professions). • Others opt for a degree or major in gerontology. • For those seeking formal training in aging, there are over 500 colleges and universities that offer more than 1,000 credit programs in aging. • Over 1,000 additional schools offer course work and adult or continuing education programs that provide information on aging to older persons and others in the community for personal use and/or upgrading specific skills. Programs are available to meet different individual interests and objectives.

9. Examples of FSU Psychological Research on Aging • CREATE – The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement: www.create-center.org • FDOT – Human factors work on sign and signal perception for older drivers and pedestrians: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/~charness/fdot/index.html • AFRAME– Remote monitoring of vital signs in older person’s homes (telehealth) https://campus.fsu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_6369618_1%26url%3D

10. How Do You Select a Program in Aging? • For a list of the schools that offer programs in aging, consult the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education - AGHE • For a modest charge, have a computerized search done for you by AGHE using the National Database on Gerontology in Higher Education. Both resources describe programs and list whom to contact for more information. Forms can be requested from the AGHE web site: http://www.aghe.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=40634&PID=677909

11. Psychology • In Psychology, check out the American Psychological Association’s Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging) web site: • http://www.apadivisions.org/division-20/ • Grad studies programs are given at http://www.apadivisions.org/division-20/publications/graduate-studies/index.aspx • Also see careers in geropsychologyhttp://www.apa.org/pi/aging/geropsychology.pdf • There is no accreditation of educational programs in the field of aging. Many programs, however, follow the "standards and guidelines" developed by AGHE. • After you have selected several schools that interest you, contact the faculty members who direct these educational programs in aging. • Ask them what their graduates are doing. • See if they have found jobs in settings that interest you

12. How Can You Find More About the Field of Aging? • Take an introductory gerontology or an Adult Development and Aging course. • Talk to people who are working in the field of aging • Ask them why they chose this field, what they do, and how they like their work. • Volunteer in a senior center, a nursing home, or on a faculty member's research project in aging. • Read more about careers in aging through publications in the field of aging such as The Gerontologist, published by the Gerontological Society of America; Generations, published by the American Society on Aging; and Networks, published by the National Council on the Aging (see addresses below). • Find out what events you can attend on campus. Campus gerontology programs often sponsor lectures, workshops, other educational programs, and opportunities to volunteer with older persons.

13. Need some Practical Experience as a DIS? • DIS in labs working on projects related to technology use • age and technology use • age and human factors • age and telehealth • Contact Jaci Bartley: 644-8839 • Contact Heather Lupton or Rebekah Landbeck: 644-9869 • Contact Joshua Russell: 645-8724

14. Certificate Program Resources at FSU • Gerontology Certificate in the College of Social Work • http://csw.fsu.edu/academics/certificate-programs/certificate-in-gerontology-aging-studies/ • Contact Jean Munn • E-mail: jmunn@fsu.edu