By the year 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau believes Montana will have one of the oldest populations in the nation.

The forecast is driven by the fact that last year 76 million baby boomers turned 60, and the proportion of the U.S. population that is elderly is expected to increase well into the foreseeable future, said Larry Swanson, director of the O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West at the University of Montana.

Those 60-year-olds are the leading wave of aging boomers, and the beginning of a 16-year cycle in which millions of Americans will hit retirement age.

In some ways, Montanans are already seeing the effects of that trend, which explains the demand for condominiums and townhouses, and also the booming health-care industry, Swanson said.

At UM, the dramatic demographic shift presents more academic and professional opportunities for graduates.

Beginning this fall, UM is offering an interdisciplinary gerontology minor that will prepare graduates in several fields of study and help them be more competitive in their career choices, said Cindy Garthwait, a professor in the School of Social Work.

“Everybody knows the baby boomers are on their way demographically, and that we will be impacted in some ways,” Garthwait said. “It just makes sense to have our students be prepared to know what the aging population is like, what their issues are, how they want to be treated, where they want to live and what services they want.”

Because those issue are endless and multi-pronged, it makes sense to offer a multidisciplinary minor so that a student from any of UM’s academic corners can take part, Garthwait said.

Meeting the needs of this generation isn’t just about health care and retirement homes, she said. There is a lot of room for creative enterprises, particularly in the fields of recreation, architecture, entertainment, travel and technology services that aid in independent living.

Independent living and anything that supports that goal is critical, not only for the health and well-being of the elderly, but also because medical care is costly, and people who are healthy have a better quality of life and fewer expenses.

By way of example, Garthwait shared the story of a community in Chicago that had some 20,000 elderly people living in high-rise buildings. They were afraid to leave their apartments because it was difficult for them to navigate not because they feared crime in the streets outside, but because the crosswalks were dangerous, the streetlights weren’t bright enough, and the traffic was too fast.

When the city learned of the issues, changes were made. The community’s elderly residents began getting out more, health problems diminished and life was immeasurably better.

UM students who receive a minor in gerontology can choose to apply their knowledge in a more traditional way, such as working in assisted-living environments, Garthwait said. But as was evident in Chicago, there are plenty of areas that will require innovation and new perspectives to respond to the needs of the elderly.

“Nearly every profession and discipline will be impacted by the growing number of older adults,” Garthwait said, and added: “Those trained in gerontology within their respective professions will be highly sought after for their expertise.”

To earn the UM minor, students must complete four core courses that include Introduction to Gerontology; Social Gerontology; Adult Development and Aging; and Health Aspects of Aging.

Students must also complete an elective course, and a practicum within their major that allows students to work within community settings.

Gerontology as a specialized field has been around for a while, and a handful of universities offer graduate programs specific to aging, Garthwait said. But at UM, an option to minor in gerontology is a good fit for now.

“So many people we graduate are kind of multifaceted, particularly in the field of social work we tend to have generalists,” Garthwait explained. “We think a minor in gerontology suits us well because in Montana it will be harder to find a job with a gerontology degree than if you have your own degree in your professional field plus this degree.

“But we are open to offering a major,” she said. “Who knows how this will develop? We are just starting on this path.”