The population of the United States is rapidly aging, and this demographic trend will increase greatly with the aging of the baby boom population. Whereas only about four percent of the U.S. population was 65 or older a century ago, today elders 65+ represent 12.4% of the population. This percentage is expected to increase to 20% by the year 2030, when elders are expected to number 70 million. Moreover, the fastest growing age group nationally is those 85+, so the older population is itself getting older. In our state, Iowa, there is a very high percentage of elders: we rank fourth in percentage of persons 65 and older and second in percentage of persons 85 and older and in centenarians.

Population aging presents many challenges to society, including health care, housing, financial support, and human services targeted to the needs of elders. Many more professionals are needed in the helping professions, including medicine, nursing, social work, and other health professions to work with this burgeoning population. Social work with elders is one of the fastest growing career fields today; yet, relatively few social work professionals have been trained to work with the older population. To help remedy this situation, the Council on Social Work Education, with support from the Hartford Foundation, is providing funding to enhance educational programs with increased geriatric and gerontological content that will provide social workers with the knowledge and skills they need to improve the health and well-being of older adults and their families. We now describe the University of Iowa School of Social Work program, the only such program in the state of Iowa.