Geriatric Career Development

Geriatric Career Development

The Next Generation of Health Care Workers

Since 2006, the Geriatric Career Development (GCD) Program of Jewish Home Lifecare (JHL) has helped at-risk New York City high school students climb career ladders in health care. The GCD Program involves a three year structured work-based learning curriculum, internships, academic support, social services, college test preparation and college and career counseling.

With a 94% retention rate, the GCD program has helped students improve their GPAs, decrease absences and tardiness and achieve better SAT and PSAT scores. Of the 132 GCD Alumni, 90% are working and/or in college.  Students entered nursing programs, became certified nursing assistants, licensed pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians or pursued other health care careers.

Program Goals

• Advance the academic and career development of high school students interested in pursuing health care careers through an in-depth educational and internship program in a geriatric long-term health care setting
• Contribute to the future health care workforce by increasing high school students’ exposure to geriatric health care and promoting the development of skills required for employment
• Address the shortage of allied health professionals, especially in geriatrics, by exposing students to allied health care professions and issues in aging

 Student Objectives

• Increase or maintain GPAs and graduate from high school
• Increase knowledge of types of careers available within a health system
• Obtain skills and training to become certified in a non-degree direct care occupation
• Upon completion of the program, attend a 2- or 4-year college and/or be employed in the health care system