Gerontology refers to the study of the cognitive, biological, social, and psychological aspects of growing older and aging. The term geriatrics sometimes is used in place of the word, Gerontology but the two words have different definitions. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults. Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in the fields of biology, nursing, medicine, criminology, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, geography, pharmacy, public health, housing, and anthropology.[1]
Gerontology is a multidisciplinary field reaching to physiology, psychology and sociology that overlap with gerontology. Gerontologists view aging in terms of four distinct processes: chronological aging, biological aging, psychological aging, and social aging.Gerontology encompasses study, research, investigation, care, and advocacy:
- Studying physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age
- Caring for older adults
- Investigating the biological, social, psychological, and cognitive aging process itself including aging’s causes and effects
- Examining wellness and treatments for aging-related conditions and diseases
- Researching the national and global effects of an ageing population on society
- Advocating for policies and programs of interest and impact to older adults
#PGCACU