[Occupational fields and professional opportunities of German gerontologists--a report based on a survey of the members of the German Society for Gerontology].

The report is based on a written questionnaire sent to the members of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gerontologie. The rate of return amounted on average to 45% with all four Sections of the Association well represented. 40% of those who answered claim to be active in the scientific field only, 47% work as scientists and practitioners at the same time, and another 9% dedicate their work to practice only. The span of professions as well as branches of science and their specialities is very broad. It may thus be assumed that member composition is a guarantee for multidisciplinarity. 62% of the members who answered claim to have good career prospects in the profession they represent and in their branch of occupation, i.e. in gerontology/geriatrics or in practical fields of work dedicated to applying such knowledge. Nevertheless, one fifth of the members of this professional association see no professional perspectives in the fields named, although their membership in the Association points to a vested interest. One fifth of the members, not identical with the group referred to above, state that they see no chances of employment in gerontology/geriatrics or their fields of application in the long run, or they refrain from presenting a judgment on the grounds of prevailing uncertainty. Critical comments made concern the situation of gerontology/geriatrics in the Federal Republic of Germany. This branch of science is seen as receiving too little recognition and the degree of institutionalisation reached is judged to be rather unsatisfactory.