Interdisciplinary Studies Department, School of Health Professions, Rutgers University, Blackwood, New Jersey, USA.
Interdisciplinary Studies Department, School of Health Professions, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2022 Jul-Sep;43(3):383-396. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2020.1871338. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
The aging population is growing exponentially, and it is expected that soon the number of older adults within our population will outnumber the youth. To prepare for this shift in demographics, there is a need for educational programs in gerontology. The objective was to find out whether individuals in the community feel there is a need for a master's degree in gerontology and if so, what topical areas should be covered. Participants indicated that there is a need for a master's degree in gerontology and many professionals working with older adults would consider enrolling in the program. In addition, professionals, older adults, and undergraduate students shared many topics that should be covered in the programs, for instance, financial planning, caregiver stress, Medicare, and other social programs. In addition, findings indicate that an online program may be the best to meet the demands of the working professionals who would like to enroll in the program but are concerned about time and many other issues. The data collected from the present study, along with the core competencies put forth by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) will be used to design a master's program at a university in New Jersey.
人口老龄化呈指数级增长，预计很快我们人口中的老年人数量将超过年轻人。为了为人口结构的这一转变做好准备，需要开设老年学教育项目。目的是了解社区中的个人是否认为需要老年学硕士学位，如果需要，应该涵盖哪些主题领域。参与者表示，老年学硕士学位是有必要的，许多与老年人一起工作的专业人士都将考虑参加该项目。此外，专业人士、老年人和本科生都分享了该项目中应该涵盖的许多主题，例如财务规划、护理人员压力、医疗保险和其他社会项目。此外，研究结果表明，在线课程可能是满足希望参加该项目但又担心时间和许多其他问题的在职专业人士需求的最佳选择。本研究收集的数据以及高等老年学教育学院（AGHE）提出的核心能力将用于在新泽西州的一所大学设计一个硕士课程。
