What is Gerontology?
The word Gerontology derived from a Greek word Geron means “old man” and logy mean “study of” formulated in 1903 by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov. It is defined as the study of aging considering various aspects of aging process like biology, sociology and psychology. It also talks about public policies, humanities and economics for aged population. Individuals study about changes occurs in physical, mental and social condition in old people. They also investigate changes in whole society and community results due to rise in aging population. Finally human services professionals/gerontologists apply this knowledge to develop policies and programs for welfare of senior citizens. Government organizations use these policies on macroscopic or large levels to implement programs for old age people. While private nonprofit organizations like nursing home and old houses apply these policies on microscopic scale to develop successful policies.
Social Gerontology
Gerontology is multidisciplinary in nature involving number of sub-fields and associated fields like psychology and sociology. Social Gerontology is also a multidisciplinary sub field of Gerontology that specifically deals in study and working with old age people. Professional Gerontologist may be a human services degree holder, qualified nurse or psychologist. Geriatric social workers are responsible to provide social services for older adults over the age of 60 or 65. They work with families and communities to develop aging policies after researching issues of aging.
How individuals adopt this profession of Social Gerontology?
With evolution of this field in human services demand for educated and well trained professionals has increased. Many top accredited universities offering certifications for human services graduate students and working professionals as well. Social Gerontology academic certification is very fruitful for employment opportunities. Individuals completed their graduate degree with Behavioral Health/Human Service majors are eligible to get registered in Social Gerontology certification program. After pursuing this certificate they are prepared to serve ad social services and human services assistant, community specialist, personal and home-care adviser.
Skills Learned after pursuing Social Gerontology Academic Certification
After successful completion of this certification graduates will be able to play important role of Gerontologist, who is capable to help old age people of society and help them to improve their lives. Specifically, they become skilled to:
- Exhibit primary set of skill to help others like tenderness, understanding and careful listening. These skills are very essential to obtain job in organizations working for welfare of aged people.
- They also display a very strong sense of understanding issues from personal growth experiences.
- Professionals will be able to use talent of critical thinking and writing necessary to work with clients.
Work Settings for Professional Social Gerontologists
Qualified professionals are capable to work in diverse work settings like communities, human service and religious bodies, health care facilities, federal, state, local and government agencies. They also work in academic and other research institutes. Moreover, they also work in professional organizations like business and industries. Irrespective to the work setting, federal government has entitled a law the Older American Act to deliver any kind of welfare service for old age population.
Basic Activities of Professional Social Gerontologists
Besides, working in organization professionals may directly interact with older persons and guide them about how they spend healthy life like others. Following are some common activities of Social Gerontologists:
- Develop special programs like health campaign, theater groups for seniors and inter-generational programs for elder people in community center, senior center and retirement communities.
- They also take care of weak, ill and injured old age persons in hospitals, clinics, adult day care, nursing homes ad home care programs.
- They also counsel aged people and their families to tackle issues like employment, death and mental health. Moreover, they also give advices for financial stability like estate planning, investment and housing options.
Anna Adams is Textbook Geek and freelance social worker by profession. She currently blogs for Online Degree Programs in Human Services.
