Do you realize that a baby boomer turns 50 every seven seconds? The number of people age 65+ will grow to a staggering 70 million by 2030! As a result, there is an exploding demand for services targeted to the over-65 population. Here are three senior-related career options you might want to explore:
Geriatric Care Managers: Working in private practice or through an agency, geriatric care managers (GCM’s) visit a client at home, assess their needs, arrange for care services and monitor ongoing care. Many GCM’s have backgrounds in nursing or social work, but it is not absolutely required. The two major certification programs for care managers, established in the 1990s, are “Care Manager Certified” (CMC), offered by the National Academy of Certified Case Managers in Colchester, Connecticut and “Certified Case Manager” (CCM), offered by the Commission for Case Management Certification in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
Non-Medical Home Care: Because of their limited mobility, many seniors need help with the day-to-day tasks of living such as meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping and transportation to doctor’s appointments. There are a growing number of franchise opportunities addressing this need, but you could also start this business yourself on a much smaller basis and grow it as time allows.
Memoir Writing: Preserving family history and personal stories for future generations is a treasured gift, so it should come as no surprise that an entire industry has sprung up around this pursuit. One woman I know uses the interviewing skills she gained as a Therapist to produce one-of-a-kind memory books for her clients and their families. She now teaches classes on this subject, travels to meet clients and enjoys a healthy side-income while pursuing work she loves.