Gerontology: n. the study of aging and the social, biological, and psychological changes in older people as they age
Gerontology is the study of aging. In contrast to geriatrics (the study of health and disease in older persons), gerontology is a multidisciplinary field that seeks to understand the biological, social, and psychological changes that occur in later life. Additionally, it involves the investigation of how an aging population will affect society at large. Knowledge from gerontology can be applied to everything from policy-making to running nursing home programs.
It is expected that the aging population will rapidly increase within the next 30 years, making gerontology a valuable field. By 2050, the population of over-60-year-olds is predicted to exceed the number of children below 14 years old.
Examples of places that gerontologists work in include community organizations, government and non-profit agencies, health care facilities, hospices and research labs.
References:
Photo Credit:
http://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Orange-grandma-child-medium.jpg
It is expected that the aging population will rapidly increase within the next 30 years, making gerontology a valuable field. By 2050, the population of over-60-year-olds is predicted to exceed the number of children below 14 years old.
Examples of places that gerontologists work in include community organizations, government and non-profit agencies, health care facilities, hospices and research labs.
References:
- AllPsychologyCareers. (2013). What is Gerontology? Retrieved February 10, 2013, from AllPsychologyCareers's website: http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/topics/gerontology.html.
- Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. (2013). What is Gerontology? Geriatrics? Retrieved February 10, 2013, from Association for Gerontology in Higher Education's website: http://www.aghe.org/500217.
- Taylor, Albert W. (2008). Physiology of Exercise and Healthy Aging. Human Kinetics. ISBN 978-0-7360-5838-4.
Photo Credit:
http://www.ncpssm.org/entitledtoknow/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Orange-grandma-child-medium.jpg