 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Careers in Aging
(2 minutes: 39 seconds)
 MP3 (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] Have you ever considered a career in aging? For the last 50 years Americans have been preparing for an aging society. By
2030 the number of people 55 and older will double from what it is today to
almost 108 million people. In 2030, those over 65 will account for 20%
of the total population (U.S. Census Bureau). Due to the economic and social
implications, mass retirements and the impact the graying of America will have
on the health care system, our country will see a rise in services providing
industries to meet the many needs of aging and older adults.
The Association for
Gerontology in Higher Education,or AGHE, predicts that there will be endless
opportunities for the development and delivery of new products, programs, and
services, as careers in the aging field become "the next big things in the 21st
Century workplace."
Because Americans are living longer and more healthfully,
employment in the aging field will focus on more than just illness, disease, and
health care services. It is expected that demand will increase to train
qualified applicants for work in areas such as financial and legal services,
leisure, travel, hospitality, fitness, and wellness. More and more academic
institutions of all levels are also providing curriculum to prepare students for
careers in aging.
If you are interested in improving the lives of older people or interested in
knowing more about your own aging and changes to expect in your family members
as they age, you should talk to professionals and students in an age-related
field and discuss your thoughts with them. After all, "our society’s success in
responding to the opportunities and challenges as well as interests and needs of older
people will, in large part, depend on the dedication of those who choose to
work in the field of aging" (AGHE, 2009).
I’m Dr. LaVona Traywick and those are just a few "Thoughts on Aging".
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
References:
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. "Careers in aging: Consider
the possibilities…Careers in aging week 2009." Retrieved on 1-14-09 from
http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. "Careers in aging: Consider
the possibilities…Is aging the field for you?" Retrieved on 1-15-09 from
http://www.careersinaging.com/careersinaging/is_aging_4you.html
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