Gerontology and Geriatrics:  What’s the Difference?

Did-You-Know-Dan's-Wellness-Pharmacy-Newsleter-March-2015Gerontology is the comprehensive study of aging and the challenges facing older adults.  Many people confuse gerontology with geriatrics.  Whereas geriatrics focuses strictly on the medical conditions and diseases of older people, gerontology is a multidisciplinary study that incorporates biology, psychology and sociology.  Because gerontology deals with multi-faceted aspects of aging, gerontology professionals can be found in a variety of industries, including healthcare, government, nonprofits and the business community.  The U.S. Census Bureau projects that life expectancy in American will be 77.1 years for men and 81.9 years for women by 2020 – making both gerontology and geriatrics high-demand professions.

Source:  University of Southern California, Davis School of Gerontology