Geriatric Nurses

The specialty of gerontology nursing started developing in the 20th century as people routinely began to live longer than in past generations. Healthier lifestyles, new medicines, and new medical procedures, among other things, contributed to this change in life span. And as more and more people lived longer, a growing number needed and wanted the professional expertise of a health care professional educated in their needs and concerns. Geriatric nurses are able to address the special health problems older people may face, such as serious chronic problems (heart disease or blood pressure illness), decreases in senses and physical agility (sight, hearing, balance) that lead to injuries from accidents, and the problems that may result from accidents (learning to walk again after a broken hip).

The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the population of adults age 65 and over will more than double by 2034 (increasing from approximately 35 million in 2000 to 77 million in 2034). By 2054, 84 million adults age 65 and older will comprise about 23 percent of the U.S. population. The number of people age 85 or older is also projected to more than double by 2040 (from 6.5 million in 2022 to 13.7 million in 2040). Clearly, health care services for those in their "golden years" will continue to be a growing field.