This week, April 17-23, 2022, we are celebrating our team members and careers in aging. Join Birmingham Green in promoting the community’s rewarding careers in aging via social media using the hashtag #CareersInAging.
I learned about the field of aging as a professional while pursuing my graduate degree through an internship opportunity at an over 900-bed county nursing facility, Fair Acres Geriatric Center, in Lima, PA. This was my first time in a nursing home since my older relatives have all been cared for at home. During this experience, I discovered my career’s purpose and became an advocate for promoting careers in aging. Career opportunities are important to start sharing even as early as grade school.
A great way to introduce careers in aging to a younger audience is through literature. “Didn’t Meet Any Geezers” was written by Ruth Hersh Perry, a supporter of Birmingham Green, and co-author, Edgar N. Brown. This warm tale offers perspective on the elderly stages of life.
The demand for professionals with expertise in long-term care is growing rapidly. The U.S. will need between 5.7 million and 6.5 million nurses, nurse aides, home health care, and personal care workers to help the 27 million Americans who will require long-term care by 2050. The governor of Virginia officially recognized this initiative by declaring April 17-23, 2022 “Careers in Aging Week.” This certificate of recognition further concludes that adult aging is an area of high demand.
Many members of our team at Birmingham Green chose careers in aging as a way to give back to the community while learning about long-term care. Case Manager, David Leventhal shared, “I chose my career in aging because I became very passionate about caring for elders. The more I learned about aging populations, the more I became convinced that working in long-term care was something that I wanted to do. It is a decision that I would make all over again.”
A career in aging can be pursued from different areas of study (e.g., psychology, health care, gerontology, human development, cognitive science, engineering, law, business). There are a variety of options for the type of career you can pursue through research, practice, education, and policy. Person-centered care has many opportunities to combine with different areas of study to impact the lives of the community in different ways.
Looking to explore a career in aging? Learn more about how you can get started by visiting Birmingham Green’s Career page.
Best,
Denise
Chief Executive Officer