WHY STUDY GERONTOLOGY?             

Ever wonder why we should take courses on aging?          

Here are some answers:         

"No trend in the last 100 years has had greater impact on the nature of social and political life than the dramatic demographic shifts reflected in the following:            

• The population of persons aged 65 and over increased from 3 million in 1900 to 33.2 million in 1994. There will be 50 million by 2020.          

• The average life expectancy increased from 47 in 1900 to 76 in 1995.          

• In 1900 fewer than 1 in 10 persons is over 55 years, now 1 in 5 is over 55 years.           

• The median age of the U.S. population increased from 18 years in 1900, to 28 years in 1970, to 33 in 1990, and is expected to peak at 43 years in 2040.            

(From "Frequently Asked Questions" published by the Center on Aging Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City)          

The number of jobs in gerontology-related fields will increase by more than 36 percent by 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A key factor in the expected job growth in the field of aging, besides the obvious demographic bulge, is the shift away from viewing employment solely from the illness, disease and research model.

While demand will remain high in these areas a vast opportunity exists for the development and delivery of new products and services to the aging population.             

A new workbook, EXPLORING CAREERS IN GERONTOLOGY, presents a strategy for developing careers in gerontology. For details, visit:           

http://news.aarp.org/UM/T.asp?A91052851.2353.1.1243836