Due to dramatic increases in life expectancy, the number of individuals aged 65 and older in the United States has grown tremendously.

• The overall U.S. population has tripled in the past century; however, the number of people aged 65 and older has increased 11-fold.
• Currently nearly 35 million Americans are aged 65 and older, representing 12.4 percent of the population, or one in eight Americans.
• During the next thirty years, as Baby Boomers age, the number of elderly Americans will double, from 34.7 million to 69.4 million.
• It is estimated that in 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 years of age or older.

Because these growth trends will result in a demand for professionals with knowledge, skills and expertise in gerontology, the University's programs in the Department of Human Services are addressing those demographic changes.

The gerontology program involves the study of the biological, psychological and social aspects of aging, as well as the study of the impact of the aging population on society. The University offers a bachelor of science degree in gerontology that prepares graduates for positions in agencies, institutions and corporations that administer and deliver programs and services for older adults. The program also offers a bachelor of science degree in gerontology with a specialization in long-term care administration.

Growing awareness of the “aging of America ” has increasingly led other degree-granting programs to encourage students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to work with an older adult population. This is especially evident in the University's social work program, which is also a part of the Department of Human Services.

As a profession, social workers have a long history of providing psychosocial support to older adults and their families as well as affecting change via policy-making, program development, and advocacy. The aging population will also impact the need for social workers specifically trained in gerontology and geriatrics.

The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) estimates that 70,000 additional geriatric social workers will be needed by 2020. In response to this need, the gerontology and social work programs have worked collaboratively to prepare students for careers in geriatric social work.

Faculty in the two programs continue to work cooperatively to address the need for competently trained geriatric practitioners. These collaborative efforts mirror the growing national recognition of the mutual interests and needs across both gerontology and social work. This is evident with geriatric organizations (Gerontological Society of America, Association for Gerontology in Higher Education) and social work organizations (Council of Social Work Education, National Association of Social Workers) both highlighting initiatives that promote gerontology in social work.

BGSU has several students who are aware of the future trends and thus are pursuing studies in both program areas. Jennifer Slee is one of those students who is double-majoring in gerontology and social work. Even as she works toward her degrees, she is utilizing her education in a job as an office coordinator at Bridge Home Health and Hospice in Bowling Green (see related story).