At the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a new combined Master's degree in adult and gerontological nursing will soon allow advanced practice nurses with an interest in the care of the elderly to develop specific skills as specialists in gerontology.

With the United States' population of citizens over age 65 poised to grow to more than 87 million by 2050---more than twice the number recorded in the 2000 census---a pressing need for healthcare providers with a keen interest in the care of the elderly is growing exponentially. 

Beginning this fall, the University of Maryland program will begin offering specific training in the care of the aged to approximately forty advanced practice nurses who will also have the ability to work with any patients over 16 years of age.

Various articles report the need for nurses with a specialty in geriatric care, and careers related to gerontology are a topic of much discussion among those making decisions about their vocational futures. With a growing need for home health workers, nurses, doctors, social workers and administrators who specialize in elder populations, opportunities abound for remunerative careers related to this expanding population in need of specialized services, and many medical schools are also increasing the availability of specialized fellowships in geriatrics. Simultaneously, nursing homes are reportedly on the decline as savvy caregivers and seniors are choosing to have their needs met by opting for multi-level assisted living facilities which offer a style of care with less of an institutionalized feeling.

For those considering a new career or a new specialization, degrees and training programs related to gerontology are certainly an option with a certain future, especially when one considers the fact that the elderly population of the United States---and assuredly other countries, as well---is poised to double in less than fifty years. Be it nursing, medicine, social work, administration or research, such vocational pursuits are sure to be personally rewarding, economically viable, and crucial to the care of a large and vulnerable segment of our population. 

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NurseKeith is a nurse, consultant, writer and blogger. Please feel free to visit his blog, Digital Doorway .  

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