Gero-Ed Center Student FAQs

Working with older adults can be a rewarding experience. Here are some more reasons to consider a career in gerontological social work!

• By 2020, one in six Americans will be aged 65 or over, with the most dramatic growth among adults age 85 and older, elders of color and women.
• Age is the one social position that we all hold, regardless of our gender, race/ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, or physical/mental ability. Ageism is the one “ism” that we all encounter. Issues of aging and older adults are linked with all the fields of practice—substance use, mental health, health care, child welfare (e.g., grandparents are primary caregivers to grandchildren), interpersonal violence, or corrections (e.g., the graying of the inmate population). Aging across the life course is inextricably intertwined with all that social workers do!
• 60,000 to 70,000 geriatric social workers will be needed by 2020, yet less than 10% of that projected number is now available.
• The demand for geriatric social workers will increase by 45% by 2015.

Read more on our Learn More about Gerontological Social Work Web page.

Very likely! Visit our Social Work Programs Offering Gerontology Web page to download a spreadsheet of which social work programs offer gerontology concentrations or certificates.

CSWE maintains a Distance Education Offerings by Accredited Programs Web page. The list of distance education offerings is not intended to be exhaustive. Students are encouraged to contact these programs to learn in which states online programs are offered. Many programs offer weekend and evening classes for nontraditional students.

In such situations, there are several ways you can learn about issues facing older adults. For example, you can:

• Focus your papers or other projects on issues related to aging.
• Conduct outside reading on aging.
• Ask a gerontological social worker in your area for an informational interview.
• Do your thesis or independent study project on a topic related to aging.
• Attend local conferences, meetings, or trainings on aging issues.
• Volunteer at a non-profit organization that supports older adults and/or caregivers.
• Ask your practicum supervisors how older adults or caregivers interact with your agency; request to be involved in those areas.
• Visit our Research and Statistics Web page to access information from organizations such as the Administration on Aging, the Gerontological Society of America, and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Unfortunately, our small staff is unable to provide this level of assistance. However, bibliographies of suggested readings on our web site may a good place to start.

Gerontological social workers work in a variety of settings, including:

While gerontology and gerontological social work have similarities, they are separate fields, each with their own perspective on aging and older adults.

Social workers assist individuals, groups, or communities to restore or enhance their capacity for social functioning, while creating or changing societal conditions favorable to their goals. The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior, social, economic and cultural institutions, and the interaction of all these factors (NASW). Gerontological social work is a type of social work practice that focuses on older adults, their families, and caregivers.

Social Gerontology is the study of biological, psychological and social changes as people age; the investigation of societal changes resulting from and impacting the aging population; and the application of this knowledge to practice, policies and programs. Geriatrics is often used in reference to the aging process and the study of disease in later life and is used more in the medical and nursing professions (AGHE). However, both apply to social work since social workers in health care have to understand and be involved in both geriatrics and gerontology.