Geriatric Nurses

Employment for registered nurses who work in services for the elderly and persons with disabilities is expected to grow by 35.3 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as a result of a rapidly increasing elderly population. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the population age 65 and over will more than double by 2030 (increasing from approximately 35 million in 2000 to 77 million in 2034). As the older population increases, their need for medical care will also increase. In addition, a report by the Nursing Institute at the University of Illinois predicts that the ratio of caregivers to the elderly population will decrease by 40 percent between 2010 and 2030. As a result, employment prospects for qualified geriatric nurses are nearly limitless.