Illinois treats its seniors with respect and dignity. Social workers who specialize in aging and gerontology issues in the state have a strong network of support and resources to bolster their practice.
If you’re a gerontology social worker in the state, you’ll find career opportunities with nonprofit, private, and public agencies and a local government that champions your mission.
Take, for example, the Governor’s Engaging Aging Award. This distinction is a prime example of the recognition the state shows to social work professionals who have made a career of advocating and supporting Illinoisans aged 65 and older.
Nominated by the Illinois Department on Aging’s (IDoA) Area Agencies on Aging, the selected organizations are inducted into the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame.
The 2023 inductees included:
- Community Nutrition Network & Senior Services Association
- Dementia Friendly Decatur Task Force (DFDTF)
- Franklin County Senior Services (FCSS)
- Glen Carbon Senior and Community Center
The award is a reflection of the state’s high regard for the invaluable contributions of gerontology social workers and their partner organizations.
What Does a Gerontology Social Worker Do?
Under the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics, gerontology social workers, like all social workers, “enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.”
The distinction for gerontology social workers is the specific population they serve: adults aged 65 and older.
Interventions and areas of focus for social workers delivering services to a geriatric population — whether at a micro-, mezzo-, or macro-level — may include:
- Assessing client needs, social, emotional, and physical
- Handling case management for elderly clients
- Providing counseling to clients and caregivers
- Protecting clients from elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, and fraud
- Helping clients prepare for a disaster
- Teaching clients and family members to navigate the challenges and dangers of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Promoting awareness of Illinois programs, such as the Endangered Missing Person Advisory Act, Illinois State Triad, the Caregiver Support Program, the Community Care Program, and other social service programs
- Researching age-related social and environmental issues
- Contributing to Illinois statutes and policy regarding equity and inclusion for Illinois’ seniors
- Advocating for the increasingly diverse older adult population, including people with disabilities, people of color, and older adults belonging to the LGBTQ+ community
- Connecting older adults with preventive services and health resources as part of an integrated person-centered care plan
- Identifying underserved populations of older Illinoisans and increasing their participation in health programs through targeted outreach
- Helping clients transition from hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities to the community
- Educating and counsel LGBTQ+ people aged 65 and older about long-term care and end-of-life planning
- Providing housing assistance to senior citizens experiencing homelessness
With a projected 3.7 million Illinoisans aged 65 and older — and 402,000 aged 85 and older — by 2030, Illinois recognizes the growing diversity of its aging population.
Illinois Diversity By the Numbers: Projections
- 14.2% Black
- 17.1% Hispanic or Latino
- 5.5% Asian
- 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native
- 61.3% White, non-Hispanic
Source: Illinois Department on Aging
This demographic shift brings challenges, such as language barriers, cultural complexities, social or geographical isolation, ongoing racial and socioeconomic inequality, and systemic discrimination.
The demand for aging and gerontology social workers will continue to grow to meet the needs of a new generation of older Illinois residents.
The Illinois State Plan on Aging
In December 2020, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker approved the State Plan on Aging, which authorized the actions intended to improve the situations of older Illinoisans, specifically those with the “greatest financial and social need.”
A key focus of the plan is the ability of adults aged 65 and over to safely live in their homes. Beyond that, the plan strives to achieve the following goals:
- Effectively administer the federal Older Americans Act (OAA)
- Expand access to state programs that address the social determinants of health (SDOH)
- Leverage resources to sustain and expand services and supports to older adults
- Prepare for the projected growth and diversity in the aging population
- Implement person-centered planning practices
- Respond to abuse, neglect and exploitation while preserving rights of older adults and persons with disabilities in all settings
- Use information technology systems to improve data collection, training, compliance, and service outcomes
The State Plan on Aging will be in effect through September 2024, opening opportunities for aging and gerontology social work practitioners across the state.
How Does the State Plan Affect the Job Outlook for Gerontology Social Workers
The State Plan is just the beginning of the Prairie State’s efforts to move to a model of integrated service delivery in health care, law enforcement, and immigration policy, among other social, environmental, and economic matters that affect its aging citizens.
Aging and Gerontology Social Work and Health Care
Aging and gerontology social workers already apply a multidisciplinary approach to their practice, determining the effects of the social, mental, physical and emotional aspects of aging. The coordination of social and health care services offers social workers who specialize in aging the opportunity to contribute to positive outcomes in Illinois communities and improve individual clients’ quality of life.
Aging and Gerontology Social Work and Crimes Against Seniors
The Illinois State Triad — a partnership among law enforcement agencies, social support and protective services, and community advocates — strives to reduce the criminal victimization of older adults and improve service delivery to this vulnerable population.
Aging and Gerontology Social Work and Immigration
The Rush Department of Social Work & Community Health, the Rush Center for Excellence in Aging, the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Center for Community Health Equity have collaborated on a project titled “A Collaborative Report on the Aging Undocumented Population of Illinois.”
According to the report, Illinois will see an increase of 1,283% in the number of undocumented adults aged 65 and older by 2030.
“Health care providers and health care supportive staff such as social workers, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, and other care managers must come up with creative and innovative solutions to provide care for their patients,” the researchers argued, citing the lack of services for healthy aging available to immigrants and undocumented older adults.
In the face of these issues, Illinois will have to strengthen its workforce and recruit skilled social workers and licensed clinical social workers who specialize in the mental, physical, and socioemotional well-being of aging Illinoisans.
Where Do Illinois Gerontology Social Workers Practice?
Gerontology social work professionals may work in private practices, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, senior centers, hospitals and health care centers, hospice and palliative care providers, mental health facilities, financial institutions, law firms, policy institutes, universities, or government agencies.
Essentially, aging and gerontology social workers can work in any organization where there is a need to coordinate or execute the services funded under the State Plan on Aging, including:
- Caregiver counseling, support groups, & training
- Caregiver respite
- Caregiver supplemental services
- Counseling
- Education
- Friendly visiting
- Grandparents raising grandchildren
- Health promotion and screening
- In-home health care
- Housing assistance
- Legal assistance
- Medication management
- Mental health screening
- Multi-purpose senior center
- Outreach
- Physical fitness, group exercise, music, art, dance
- Recreation
As a gerontology social worker, you can work in Illinois cities, suburbs, rural towns, and along the countryside — any area where older adults with social and economic needs reside.
Aging and Gerontology Social Work Titles
When seeking employment as a gerontology social worker in Illinois, you’ll come across a variety of titles to describe different roles within the specialization.
Here is just a sample of the possible titles for gerontology social work specialists:
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Director of social work
- Adult Protective Services caseworker
- Care manager
- Program specialist - health promotion
- Comprehensive care coordinator
- Community living specialist
- Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)
- Senior services director
- Director of wellness
- Hospice or palliative care social worker
It’s important to read job descriptions carefully — and even search by educational requirements — to ensure that you don’t miss an opportunity that matches your career goals.
Illinois Department on Aging Programs
The Illinois Department on Aging and the Illinois aging network, known as Illinois Aging Together, have established programs for seniors that offer various services — from finding affordable health insurance and accessing quality care to reporting abuse and preventing financial exploitation.
Aging and gerontology social workers may find opportunities with any of the following state and local government programs:
- Adult Day Services
- Adult Protective Services
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Automated Medication Dispenser (AMD)
- Benefit Access
- Care Coordination Services
- Caregiver Support Program
- Choices for Care Program
- Community Care Program
- Comprehensive Care in Residential Settings
- Emergency Home Response Service
- Home Care Ombudsman Program
- IL Care Connections
- Information and Assistance
- Legal Assistance
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- Money Management
- Nutrition
- Senior Community Service Employment Program
- Senior Companion
- Senior Health Insurance Program
- Veteran’s Services
How to Specialize in Aging and Gerontology Social Work
Becoming a specialized aging and gerontology social worker requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work and the state-mandated supervised experienced hours.
For example, Illinois’ administrative code states that adult protective service case workers within the Department on Aging must have:
- Master's degree in health, social services, social work, health care administration, gerontology, disability studies, criminal justice or public administration
- A registered nursing license, or a bachelor of science in nursing or a bachelor of arts/bachelor of science in health, social sciences, social work, health care administration, gerontology, or criminal justice and one year experience in health or human services;
or - A practical nursing license, with two years' experience in health or human services
The degree requirements are in addition to other qualifying criteria.
At an advanced level, adult protective service supervisors must have:
- A master’s degree in health, social sciences, social work, health care administration, gerontology, disability studies, criminal justice or public administration, and one year experience in health or human services; or
- A registered nursing license, or a bachelor of science in nursing or a bachelor of arts/bachelor of science in health, social sciences, social work, health care administration, gerontology, or criminal justice and three years' experience in health or human services, including either one year of supervisory experience or one year of experience in aging, adults with disabilities or domestic violence programs or services
The education and experience requirements will vary from one gerontology social work role to another, but at the minimum, you will need a bachelor’s degree.
BSW and MSW Degree Programs and Graduate Certificates for Aging and Gerontology Specialists
Some Illinois social work degree programs offer specialized coursework or graduate certificates for students specializing in gerontology. For example, Southern Illinois University offers a Gerontology Graduate Certificate that includes coursework in social work, rehabilitation, health, exercise, and education, and elective courses on policy and program, psychosocial, and health and fitness issues.
Dominican University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program has an Aging, Adulthood and Gerontology track, which gives students insight into the biological, physical, psychological, sociological, spiritual and economic aspects of aging. The Chicagoland-area university even offers a gerontology scholarship to students who are completing their first- or second-year internships with older adults.
And for MSW-degree holders who want to advance their careers in gerontology social work, Dominican University offers a non-degree certificate program in gerontology.
Illinois BSW and MSW programs prepare students for professional practice. Before you enroll in a program, make sure it’s accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and that the curriculum and format suit your personal and career goals.
Illinois Aging and Gerontology Social Work Salaries
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, social workers in Illinois earned an average annual salary of $55,350.
Experience, education, location, and several other factors determine individual social worker salaries, but this data is a fair starting point when considering your potential salary.