What Educational Opportunities Should Professionals in Aging Provide?: A Pilot Community Assessment

Abstract

With the aging workforce and the increase of older adults, educational needs of the workforce in aging services are broadening. The pilot study used a survey to examine the types of educational opportunities and needs of professionals providing services to older adults in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Respondents (25.9%) reported learning about aging through a bachelor's degree program, 29.6% learned through self-study, and 33.3% reported learning on the job. Professionals are interested in enrolling in gerontology programs. Policy makers should provide funding to help educate professionals. Professional organizations should expand to ensure that employees have gerontological education.

Thanks to Meaghan Galloway and Melissa Bach for their help on the data collection for this project. Thanks, too, to Drs. Qi Jiang, Louise Pavia, Provost Ikram Khawaja, and Dean Shearle Furnish for their assistance with release time and advice on the project.

Notes

∗Other includes one respondent each with a rotation in geriatrics, major in gerontology, and conference/continuing education.

Note. Respondents could list up to three topics in which they were most interested in further education.

∗Other includes promotion and start own business.