16.3: Career Opportunities

Problems and challenges create needs and opportunities. Here are a few problems and challenges that are creating needs and opportunities related to aging.

To deal with the growing population of elders, people must be better educated about all aspects of aging (e.g., biological, social, psychological, economic, spiritual). Gerontology research and gerontology education must expand and become more multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. They must become more multicultural, cross cultural, and international.

People who help formulate economic and public policy must be more creative and productive to accommodate present and future changes in demographics. The elders of the future are already here.

People seeking careers should consider the burgeoning opportunities brought about by the enlarging elder population. Of course, a background in gerontology can be invaluable. Almost any career path can be modified to take advantage of and serve the special concerns, needs, and desires of elders. Beyond health care, diverse examples include architecture, art, community and regional planning, education, law, marketing, management, recreation and leisure activities, and creating ways by which elders can be contributors to society.

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