Have you found the fountain of youth? No? Why we should all pay greater attention to the field of gerontology

Hello KIRC family!

Keeping It REAL Caregiving is inching closer to the move to our new home! I’m in the process of coordinating the final steps now, and will share with all of you our new location in the next update!

But for this edition, I want to plant the seeds of another arena we should all begin thinking about: Are there enough medical professionals properly trained in the field of gerontology? Do you live in a community in which these doctors live and work?

Best places to retire

Let’s consider for a moment the various publications which create those ‘Top places to live and retire’ lists.

Many will share the metrics used to determine how they picked their ‘top’ locations.

For instance one of the leading publications which compiles such lists is Forbes and the publication does provide a thorough breakdown of the factors taken into account.

While the metrics appear broad I am going to plays devil’s advocate and offer this: ‘What are some additional questions we should be thinking about when choosing communities to live – especially as we age? Remember – one size does not fit all.’

4 metrics KIRC proposes we ask:

The number of trained gerontologists who are part of the local medical network – if any. How many are men? Women? And what is the ethnic make-up of that staff?
Does any given community’s medical staff reflect the cultural and diverse population these facilities serve and do administrators take active steps to recruit and retain a diverse workforce?
Do local hospitals have a palliative care team on staff that is valued and are all doctors properly trained to understand and value the services of palliative care?
Do the local universities offer nursing programs with a focus on gerontology and do they have robust recruitment efforts?

What is Gerontology?

According to the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology...

Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological and sociological aspects of human development and the intricacies of aging across the lifespan. The processes of aging are both unique and universal, relevant to every person, company, industry and community.

Why does KIRC believe it is important we focus greater attention on the study and practice of gerontology?

Julia Yarbough & Dr. Norman Jackson/ ASA Rise Fellow – ASA 2022 On Aging Conference, New Orleans

One of my American Society on Aging ASA Rise Fellow colleagues explained it best.

Dr. Norman Jackson, Norman Jackson, Ph.D.(c), MS, is a lecturer at San Diego State University, SDSU, School of Social Work and a program director with the UCSD Center for Criminality, Addiction Research, Training & Application.

I recently talked with him about the importance of gerontology. We chatted about why he teaches in this field, as well as advocating for more individuals studying to become gerontologists.

In his own words

Why this work?

At San Diego State, and being a professor, I get to build future social workers and gerontologists. It’s really exciting work because I get to touch the future. I’m always trying to find innovative ways to bring individuals into their respective communities.

How does gerontology impact all of us?

What should we do and be aware of?

First we have to educate ourselves. There is a lot of information that is out there and we have to think about the diversity and the inequities that are happening within health. And that’s one of the nice things about the work I get to do. I deal with that head on – by having leaders who themselves represent those diverse communities, and then making those who are serving this population aware of the unique challenges that we are facing.

This kind of work is more than just an employment type of thing, it is ‘This is the life that you live.’

I try and figure out ways that we can encourage people to receive the help they need, and the social services that are required to do this kind of work.

Keeping It REAL Caregiving thanks Dr. Jackson for his insight, expertise and passion in driving change in this field!

Additional resources

SDSU College of Health and Human Services, School of Social Work

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Colleges offering gerontology degrees

California State University Chico

National Institute on Aging

Until next time~

Julia