Maybe you've always shown a special interest in older people. You treasure your grandparents or appreciate the wisdom and generosity of an older person in your community. Or maybe you're like many Americans who are concerned with the lives of the elderly and want to get involved. For whatever reason, you are considering a career in the aging services field, which includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, senior housing, and home and community-based services.

Whether you're a student, seeking a career change or returning to work after some time away, choosing a career is certainly one of the most important decisions you make and one that requires careful consideration.

In your search for the right career, you're probably asking a lot of questions: What positions are available? What do they pay? What training is required? And the most important question: What do I want from my job, the activity that I'll spend a third or more of every day doing?

Careers in long-term care and senior housing combine an interest in helping others with a job that offers personal and professional growth, pride in achievement, unlimited opportunity plus a good salary.

It seems just about everybody is talking about the "graying of America." The number of people over age 65 is climbing at an accelerated pace. The fastest growing segment of today's society is the over-85 age group. What this means, of course, is that there is a growing need for qualified employees in the aging services field.

What are Your Talents? Your Interests?
Do you get satisfaction from helping people get and stay healthy? Maybe you have a way with people, numbers or computers. Perhaps you have a keen sense of what people like to do with their spare time. Maybe you like to cook, garden or tinker with machinery.

No matter what your special interests and talents are, there is an opening for you in a nursing home, senior housing facility, assisted living facility, retirement community, home care provider, or community service agency for the elderly.

If you're unsure about following a particular career path immediately, you may want to become a volunteer or participate in an internship first. Both avenues provide opportunities for you to test a career. Student interns and volunteers are needed throughout this field. Many professionals in homes for the aging began as volunteers or interns, or worked part-time in a home while going to school. People who work with older adults are usually asked to assist elders in meeting basic human needs, including health care, rehabilitation, recreation, and social or spiritual development.

Opportunities abound at a variety of levels. Some positions require only a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Generally, though, positions that involve special skills or supervising the work of others require more education and experience.

Registered Nurses
A quick glance at your local newspaper's "employment" section (in the newspaper or on its web site) will show that registered nurses (RNs) are in demand. Labor forecasters say employment for RNs will grow at a steady pace. So if you become an RN, chances are good you'll find a secure job. In homes for the aging, RNs care for residents with a variety of needs. One resident may be recuperating from surgery or a fracture. Another may have Alzheimer's disease. Yet another may be frail and require assistance with personal needs. RNs assess residents' needs, develop treatment plans, supervise staff and handle administrative duties.

Salaries for RNs are expected to rise as demand for qualified nurses grow. The opportunity for advancement is quite good. Homes for the aging promote RNs to management, directors of nursing and staff development positions.

Nurses must graduate from an accredited school of nursing and pass a national licensure examination. Some states require additional education for license renewals. Requirements for nurse training are likely to become more rigorous to keep pace with expanding technological advancements and higher standards within the health care community.

Director of Nursing
The Director of Nursing plays an important role by ensuring a high quality of nursing care. This management position is responsible for the administration of nursing services and supervision of nursing staff.

Licensed Practical Nurses
Homes for the aging employ many licensed practical nurses (LPNs). According to the Labor Department, nearly 20 percent of all LPNs work in nursing homes. LPN's also provide important services in other aging services settings, such as assisted living. Like registered nurses, LPNs are valued members of an organization's health care team.

LPNs provide bedside care, administer medications, supervise nursing assistants, and attend to a variety of personal and health care needs.

Every state requires LPNs to complete an approved education program and pass a national written examination in order to become licensed, and licenses are required. Many programs can be completed in one year.

Nursing Assistants
Under the supervision of nurses, nursing assistants provide much of the daily, hands-on care needed by residents of nursing homes. They help residents in and out of bed and assist with dressing, bathing and eating. Because they see them on a daily basis, nursing assistants often develop personal relationships with residents. Expressing compassion and developing friendships are integral parts of the job. For many, a nursing assistant position is the beginning of a career ladder as they continue their schooling through LPN and RN preparation.

All nursing assistants in nursing homes are required to be certified. This means completing at least 75 hours of training and passing a certifying examination. Some nursing homes offer the training as do some vocational schools and community colleges.

Therapists
Any therapist will tell you of the deep satisfaction received in helping a patient with a hip fracture to walk again or a stroke victim to speak.

The three main therapy areas available to persons needing long-term care are physical, occupational and speech therapy. All three play a part in the healing process. For example, in treating a resident who has suffered a stoke, the physical therapist would help the person regain muscle strength and mobility. The occupational therapist would re-teach the person how to dress and feed himself or herself. The speech therapist would help the person speak and swallow.

Each therapy area requires licensure or certification after completing a specific educational program. There are also physical and occupational therapy assistant courses available at many community colleges. These individuals work under the supervision of a licensed or certified therapist. Most programs require two years of post-high school training. Full therapists require four to six years of higher education.

Social Workers
Social workers assess the needs of residents, provide counseling and generally assist residents in becoming integrated into their new environment.

Social workers must have at least a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology or a related field for most professional positions. For supervisory or administrative jobs, a master's degree in social work is required. Social workers should be sensitive, emotionally mature, and concerned about helping people solve their problems.

Dietitians and Food Service Directors
Well-balanced, delicious meals are paramount to the health and happiness of older persons. Each resident has his or her own particular tastes and nutritional requirements. The health and well-being of many residents depend on carefully prescribed diets. And for many residents, meals become social events. For these reasons, homes for the aging need qualified, conscientious dietitians and food service directors.

Dietitians assess the nutritional needs of the residents and develop and implement nutritional programs. Working with food service directors, they plan food budgets, purchase food and kitchen equipment, supervise the preparation and service of meals and enforce sanitary and safety regulations. The basic educational requirement for a food service director is a bachelor's degree with a major in foods and nutrition or institutional management.

Community Service Caregivers
Many older people need to live in nursing homes, senior housing or assisted living facilities for the particular benefits they offer. However, other seniors may be able to stay where they are, in their own homes, if they have assistance in one form or another.

Community service caregivers can provide that help. Home health care professionals provide health care and therapies similar to that provided by their counterparts in homes for the aging. The difference is that they provide these services a few hours a day or week to persons who are capable of receiving care in their own homes or in community settings, such as senior centers or adult day care centers. Other community service workers help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing and eating. They go shopping, help with housekeeping and meals, and drive older persons to appointments. Sometimes community service workers just "check in" to smile, talk and see that all is well.

Administrators
Administrators in nursing homes, retirement communities and senior housing facilities provide the leadership that makes a home for the aging successful. Because they are responsible for all aspects of facility funding, administrators must be knowledgeable about financial management as well as human resources, federal and state regulations and quality care.

Administrators must hire and direct staff. They develop and maintain facility programs and promote smooth working relationships with government agencies and the outside community. Administrators must regularly update their skills by attending conferences, workshops and seminars.

Generally, the most successful administrators are those with college degrees in administration, business, human services or related fields. Licensure for nursing home administrators is required.

Other Positions
The careers previously listed are not the only opportunities for someone with the desire and willingness to work with the elderly. Your interest also can be fulfilled in the following positions, to name just a few.

Chaplains. Chaplains are sensitive and dedicated people who help fulfill the spiritual needs of the residents. If you are interested in pursuing a career in theology, there is probably a home for the aging that is interested in you.

Activities Directors. Activities Directors at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement communities organize a variety of activities for their residents. These activities may be physical, educational, spiritual, therapeutic or entertaining, and help enhance the quality of life for residents.

Human Resources Managers. Human resources managers help recruit staff, assist in employee benefits management and perform additional human resources duties.

Accountants. Like any other field, homes for the aging need qualified accountants, people who can record and organize the facility's finances.

Marketing and Sales Professionals. Marketing and sales professionals explore and generate new business for their facilities. These positions are crucial to a facility's revenue - without marketing and sales, there are no residents!

Medical Directors. Medical directors are physicians appointed to ensure the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical services provided to the residents. This position is emerging as a specialty in geriatrics.

Maintenance, Housekeeping and Laundry Workers. Homes for the aging are closely regulated; they must pass tight sanitation and safety inspections, and all equipment must be well maintained. There is always a demand for maintenance, housekeeping and laundry workers in homes for the aging.

Groundskeepers. Families coming to nursing homes, senior housing facilities and retirement communities first see the grounds of the facility. A positive first impression is important, and an attractive landscape lifts the spirits of the residents. Landscape specialists and groundskeepers can find opportunities with homes for the aging.

Dining Services Staff. Dining services employ chefs, cooks, waitstaff, and dishwashers. These positions resemble professions in the restaurant industry, but with a more rewarding work environment - in aging services facilities, dining services professionals have the opportunity to develop relationships with their customers,

Security Guards. Security professionals ensure safety for residents and staff by policing buildings and grounds.


Emerging Careers
Many new professions are emerging as a result of changes in the aging services field. Such trends as the growth of managed care and home health care are having an impact on the aging services career arena. Stay current on changes in aging services, and find out what new opportunities these changes offer you.

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Resources for Careers in Aging Services