Department of Social Services Gerontology
Impact lives
Discover a meaningful career providing services for an aging population.
What is gerontology?
Gerontology is the comprehensive, multidisciplinary study of aging and older adults.
Langara offers both a one-year Social Service Worker (GERO) Certificate, and a two-year Diploma in Gerontology. Both programs provide recognized credentials for individuals seeking a new career, or further training for their current positions in the community-based seniors’ service or healthcare sector.
In these interdisciplinary programs, students gain an understanding of aging processes and social policy issues affecting older persons and their families using a strengths-based and social justice approach.
Students are passionate about working with older adults and develop practical skills and knowledge to meet the needs of this rapidly growing population. We value our connections with the local senior-serving agencies who contribute to our program through guest presentations, field trips, and especially practicum placement opportunities.
Community Support
Our programs are endorsed by community stakeholders as illustrated in the following testimonials.
It is imperative that education remain relevant and one way to do this is to ensure we have comprehensive opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds to learn about social environments that surround us. The field of aging is an example of this opportunity. As the global population ages, there comes tremendous opportunity, but there also emerges potential cultural, economic, and political challenges. Gerontology programs such as this are fundamental to address the information deficit around supporting older adults and the aging process. Congratulations to Langara College for their foresight and leadership in joining other esteemed academic institutions across the world in offering current and prospective students the opportunity to participate in experiential-learning initiatives in the field of aging and social gerontology.
Kahir Lalji
Provincial Director, Healthy Aging
United Way of the Lower Mainland
The proportion of the population aged over 65 is growing. The expectations and needs of older adults evolve as medical advances prolong their lives, as they work more years, and as they play different roles in families and communities. In view of this, there will be increased pressure for services that are attuned to the interests of and changing needs for support among older adults. This in turn means that there will be more employment opportunities for people who know how to respond flexibly to the astonishing variety of seniors in our complex society. For that reason, I support the Gerontology Program at Langara College.
Stuart Alcock
President
411 Seniors Centre Society
Practicum Opportunities
Students in both the Social Service Worker (GERO) Certificate and the Diploma in Gerontology program complete practicum placements that provide opportunities to apply theories learned in class, while gaining direct experience working with older adults in a variety of service settings. Certificate students complete over 200 practicum hours, and Diploma students complete over 300 hours. Placements may take place at:
- Senior Centres
- Neighbourhood Houses
- Community Centres
- Community Coalitions
- Educational Programs
- Residential Care Settings
- Assisted Living
- Supported Living
- Complex Care
- Immigration & Refugee Services
- Indigenous Services and Communities
- Family Service Agencies
- Adult Day Programs
- Healthcare Settings
- United Way
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Advocacy organizations
- Ethno-cultural organizations
- Hospitals
- Palliative care
Contact
Jasmyne Rockwell
Phone: 604.323.5511 ext. 2424
Email: jrockwell [at] langara.ca (jrockwell[at]langara[dot]ca)
