Aging and Health
Aging and health professionals seek to increase the quality of life for older adults, serving a broad range of elderly from the healthy and active to the frail and disabled. Professionals can work directly with the elderly in a wide variety of programs and services such as adult day care centers, nursing and assisted living facilities, community centers, home health agencies, area agencies on aging, and other community service organizations. Or, professionals may work on behalf of older adults as advocates, researchers, public policy makers and educators. Wherever they may choose to work, aging and health professionals must possess a firm understanding of the aging process, the ability to distinguish between the normal aging process and disease, and a compassionate, caring, and patient nature. As the elderly population continues to grow, new and exciting career opportunities will emerge. A Public Health major coupled with the Gerontology minor will prepare students for this rewarding and emerging field. The curriculum for Aging and Health pairs the Public Health curriculum with a minor in gerontology.
Job Settings
- Social Service Agencies
- Nursing Homes
- Health care agencies
- Hospitals
- Commercial Health Services (e.g., Extendicare)
- Home health care agencies
- Retirement residences
- Industry
- Parks and recreational programs
- Consulting firms
- Educational institutes (e.g., Elderhostel)
- Hospices
Sample Job Titles
- Social Services Director
- Retirement Counselor
- Elder Rights Specialist
- Community Relations Specialist
- Respite Care Coordinator
- Senior Employment Counselor
- Hospice Coordinator
- Activities Coordinator in a nursing home
- Adult Day Care Coordinator
- Home Health Care Coordinator
- Health Care Choices Specialist
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Geriatric Care Manager
- Case Manager
- Gerontological Specialist
Key Issues
- Providing quality of life in a system that is inclined to provide less support to the elderly rather than more.
- Increasing incidence of dementia (in over 85 population)
- Home health care
- Growing interest in alternative treatments and therapies
- Frail elderly - over 85 population is growing. Number of centenarians rapidly increasing.
- Increased need for continuing care retirement communities
Job Trends
- Increasing need for Case Managers in all sectors
- Home health care including marketing of products for home health, e.g., smart houses
- Increasing need for Retirement Planners
- Among certain segments of the elderly, increased travel and leisure.
Affiliated Sites
The Public Health Program is affiliated with over 120 health care agencies in the Northern Illinois Region which offer Internships to students. These same sites also frequently employ our alums.
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