Careers in AgingCareers in Aging

APA Committee on AgingAPA Committee on Aging

20132013

What Is Gerontology?What Is Gerontology? Study of the aging process and individuals as Study of the aging process and individuals as

they grow from midlife through later life they grow from midlife through later life including the study of physical, mental and including the study of physical, mental and social changessocial changes

Encompasses biology/health, Encompasses biology/health, psychologypsychology, , sociology, economics, humanities, public policysociology, economics, humanities, public policy

Modern gerontology emerged after WWII, Modern gerontology emerged after WWII, focusing on understanding aging processes and focusing on understanding aging processes and solving aging-related problemssolving aging-related problems

An important concern has been reducing myths An important concern has been reducing myths or stereotypes and emphasizing positive or stereotypes and emphasizing positive aspects of aging aspects of aging

Aging Myths ... and FactsAging Myths ... and Facts

1.1. All older adults have All older adults have Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease (AD)(AD)

2.2. All older adults are All older adults are depresseddepressed

3.3. Psychological Psychological treatment is ineffective treatment is ineffective in old agein old age

4.4. Most old people live in Most old people live in nursing homesnursing homes

5.5. Most older adults are Most older adults are preoccupied with preoccupied with thoughts of deaththoughts of death

1.1. Only about 5% to 13% of Only about 5% to 13% of individuals age 65  and individuals age 65  and older have ADolder have AD

2.2. The prevalence of The prevalence of depression is lower in depression is lower in older adults than in older adults than in younger age groupsyounger age groups

3.3. Elders benefit from MH Elders benefit from MH treatment as much as treatment as much as young adults doyoung adults do

4.4. 95% live on their own in 95% live on their own in the communitythe community

5.5. They are most concerned They are most concerned with staying independentwith staying independent

Aging Myths ... and Facts Aging Myths ... and Facts (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

6.6. Older adults are foolish if Older adults are foolish if interested in sex interested in sex

7.7. You can’t teach an old You can’t teach an old dog new tricks dog new tricks

8.8. Only old people are wise Only old people are wise

6.6. Sexuality is a normal part of Sexuality is a normal part of life for all adults life for all adults

7.7. People can learn at any age. People can learn at any age. Staying engaged in learning Staying engaged in learning and stimulating activities and stimulating activities helps to stay mentally sharp helps to stay mentally sharp and may delay the onset of and may delay the onset of cognitive impairmentcognitive impairment

8.8. People can be wise at any People can be wise at any age, but older folks are age, but older folks are more likely to have the life more likely to have the life experiences that make a experiences that make a person wiser – pay attention person wiser – pay attention to them! to them!

Growing Need for Aging SpecialistsGrowing Need for Aging Specialists

People are living longer than everPeople are living longer than ever By 2050, 20% of U.S. population will By 2050, 20% of U.S. population will

be 65 or older; be 65 or older; World-wide trendWorld-wide trend Older adults are a diverse group with Older adults are a diverse group with

unique interests and needsunique interests and needs• Older adults are becoming more racially Older adults are becoming more racially

and ethnically diverse – requiring people and ethnically diverse – requiring people from diverse backgrounds for supportfrom diverse backgrounds for support

Growing Need for Aging Specialists Growing Need for Aging Specialists

Currently, there are too few clinicians Currently, there are too few clinicians and researchers who work with older and researchers who work with older adults.adults.

Many exciting and rewarding career Many exciting and rewarding career opportunities exist.opportunities exist.

The need for workers will continue to The need for workers will continue to grow for the next three decades.grow for the next three decades.

Jobs are available!Jobs are available!

Main Topics in the Psychology of Main Topics in the Psychology of Adult Development and AgingAdult Development and Aging

Intelligence, memory, and wisdomIntelligence, memory, and wisdom Personality, emotional development, and Personality, emotional development, and

resilienceresilience Social relations and interactionsSocial relations and interactions Health, physical functioning, Health, physical functioning,

and sensory changesand sensory changes Life events, stressors, and copingLife events, stressors, and coping Scientific methods for studying change Scientific methods for studying change

over timeover time

Important Age-related IssuesImportant Age-related Issues Stressors such as loss of loved ones, Stressors such as loss of loved ones,

relocation, medical conditions, relocation, medical conditions, caregiving demands, change in work caregiving demands, change in work status, povertystatus, poverty• Can affect health and independenceCan affect health and independence• Can lead to anxiety and depressionCan lead to anxiety and depression

Resources such as experience, Resources such as experience, wisdom, resilience, and close wisdom, resilience, and close relationshipsrelationships• Can help with adjusting to life changesCan help with adjusting to life changes

Many types of psychologists Many types of psychologists work with older adults … work with older adults …

GeropsychologistsGeropsychologists NeuropsychologistsNeuropsychologists Cognitive Science Researchers Cognitive Science Researchers Rehabilitation PsychologistsRehabilitation Psychologists Behavioral and Social Science Researchers Behavioral and Social Science Researchers Clinical PsychologistsClinical Psychologists Counseling PsychologistsCounseling Psychologists Health PsychologistsHealth Psychologists And others….And others….

Psychologists Provide Clinical Services Psychologists Provide Clinical Services and Conduct Research onand Conduct Research on

Family relationshipsFamily relationships Mental and substance abuse disordersMental and substance abuse disorders Cognitive aging and memoryCognitive aging and memory SexualitySexuality Mental capacity assessmentMental capacity assessment Health promotion/chronic disease Health promotion/chronic disease

management management CaregivingCaregiving Adjusting to life changesAdjusting to life changes

Work SettingsWork Settings Community – senior centers, retirement Community – senior centers, retirement

homes, social service agencies, homes, social service agencies, religious organizationsreligious organizations

Health - clinics, hospitals, nursing Health - clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospice, homes, rehabilitation centers, hospice, VA medical centersVA medical centers

Education - colleges, adult education, Education - colleges, adult education, intergenerational programsintergenerational programs

Business and industryBusiness and industry Research labsResearch labs

Careers in AgingCareers in Aging

Health provider – geropsychologist, geriatric Health provider – geropsychologist, geriatric social worker, direct service provider, case social worker, direct service provider, case manager manager

Community, aging or social services workerCommunity, aging or social services worker Teacher/trainerTeacher/trainer Health ResearcherHealth Researcher There are opportunities for high school & There are opportunities for high school &

college grads, as well as those with college grads, as well as those with advanced degreesadvanced degrees

If You Are Interested In If You Are Interested In Graduate School….Graduate School….

Get some experience in work with older Get some experience in work with older adults adults • Volunteer at your area agency on aging, or at a Volunteer at your area agency on aging, or at a

senior center or rehabilitation facility or with senior center or rehabilitation facility or with advocacy groups such as AARP.advocacy groups such as AARP.

Look for graduate programs with faculty Look for graduate programs with faculty members who work with older adults or members who work with older adults or have research programs with opportunities have research programs with opportunities related to aging.related to aging.

Resources for StudentsResources for Students APA Aging Resources:APA Aging Resources:

• Office on Aging Office on Aging http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/

• Division 20, Adult Development and AgingDivision 20, Adult Development and Aginghttp://apadiv20.phhp.ufl.edu/ http://apadiv20.phhp.ufl.edu/

• Division 12 Section 2, Clinical Geropsychology Division 12 Section 2, Clinical Geropsychology http://www.geropsychology.org/http://www.geropsychology.org/

• Geropsychology: It’s YOUR Future! (fact sheet)Geropsychology: It’s YOUR Future! (fact sheet)http://www.apa.org/pi/aging/geropsychology.pdfhttp://www.apa.org/pi/aging/geropsychology.pdf

Association for Gerontology in Higher Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (aging career info)Education (aging career info)• http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/

For more information...For more information...

APA Office on AgingAPA Office on Aging• Coordination point for APA activities Coordination point for APA activities

pertaining to aging and geropsychology; pertaining to aging and geropsychology; supports the APA Committee on Agingsupports the APA Committee on Aging

• 750 First Street, NE750 First Street, NEWashington, DC 20002-4242Washington, DC 20002-4242202/336-6135202/336-6135202/336-6040 fax202/336-6040 faxmrandolph@apa.org or ddigilio@apa.orgmrandolph@apa.org or ddigilio@apa.org