sult of increases in longevity and decreases in birthrates,” Lieu writes. “As Americans enjoy the blessings of living longer lives, so- ciety will need to address some of the new challenges this presents.” “Fortunately, we have a long tradition of


using our ingenuity to find meaningful solu- tions to challenges like these. That’s what we do in America: We solve problems.” Lieu has seen a rise in awareness around aging in recent years. “In many ways, we’re gaining momentum,


with more and more companies developing products and services to help support indi- viduals, caregivers, and families to support aging loved ones. We’re continuing to explore mechanisms for getting more individuals to take on roles in this arena as well.” In past Careers in Aging Weeks, support-


ers have held online chats, made presenta- tions to schools, and held job fairs. While plans for 2020 are just getting started, the week could bring back some activities from last year. One of these was “Share Your Selfie”


where people with careers in aging could show the wide range of work possibilities through taking a selfie at work. The most popular was the video series, “Real Faces of Careers in Aging,” with compelling vignettes on why people chose careers in aging. But what makes the week a success is


participation. The partnership shares lots of ready-to-use toolkits and materials as well as ideas on how to use them. Anyone in senior living and aging services, as well as family and friends, can get involved—it can be as simple as an Instagram post or as memorable as a celebration lunch. “Social media has made it easier to tell


the world why we choose to work with older adults,” Lieu writes. “We hope to dramat- ically raise awareness of the diverse career opportunities in this field and to advance the national conversation around these meaningful careers.”


Planning your participation The partnership is in planning stages, with new materials slated to be posted in February on the Careers in Aging website


at careersinaging.com. This will include the Careers in Aging Buzzkit, with sample communication strategies for events, online promotion, and print and online promo- tional materials. The social media hashtag is #careersinag- ing—and you don’t have to wait until that week to use it; it’s good all year round. But the most effective way to get involved,


Lieu says, is to find a way to share your sto- ry. Whether that’s through an online video, a presentation to a school, or a talk to your community, the stories make the difference. If you already have an event planned


in the first week of April, you can add a Careers in Aging Week spin to connect with the positivity. Here are some additional ideas, gleaned


from past years and brainstorming, for how to make the most out of Careers in Aging Week. It’s a good idea to check in with your team or operators before launching any promotional efforts, to avoid any conflicts in time or branding.


• Volunteer to visit a technical high school or college program to present and an- swer questions.


• Let residents’ family members know the hashtag and whether you’re planning an event—they may never have thought of senior living and aging services from a career perspective.


• Recognize staff and highlight their training and certifications, to help raise awareness of what career moves are possible and what training they involve.


• Listen to discover who on your staff has an interesting career story. If they’re comfortable, you could share that story with local broadcast or online media in advance of the week.


• Offer an online Q&A session with a current staff member via social media or webinar software. It’s an easy and often free way for prospective employees to ask questions without feeling uncomfortable.


• Hold an information session or Q&A at a co-op work space. This is an audience


Senior living and aging services, as well as family and friends, can get involved—it can be as simple as an Instagram post or as memorable as a celebration lunch.


• Hold a job-shadow half day for students. • Host a reception or lunch for culinary students, to give them the real flavor of senior living.


• Team up with a local school to hold a job fair.


• Host a party to celebrate current staff— with family members invited. Ask them to take selfies and share.


• Get residents involved—many are active on social media, or a residents’ group could host an event at a community.


• If you’re in recreation, you can volun- teer to host or give a yoga, exercise, or Pilates class to raise awareness about careers in aging. Hand out information or set aside some time to talk and answer questions about your work.


that may not know about senior living and aging services opportunities in mar- keting, management, or technology.


• Have a free teaching session at a location, such as a library, on general job search skills, resume writing, and interviewing skills. You may connect resume writing and interviewing skills you may connect with people returning to the job market.


• Write a personal essay or blog post on why you chose a career in aging and offer it for publication by a local or busi- ness blog or post it on a blogger service such as Medium. Remember to share the link on social media.


• Start sharing dates in staff communica- tions and newsletters. Ask for ideas, too. Our associates have good ones.


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 ARGENTUM.ORG 29


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