“Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. From early beginnings in research and theory, gerontology developed into a multidisciplinary field of study and, more recently, into a professional field commonly known as the field of aging” (Grabinski, 2007).
The Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) definition:
“Gerontology is the study of aging processes and individuals across the life course. It includes:
The study of physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age.
The investigation of changes in society resulting from an aging population and the application of this knowledge to policies and programs.
Gerontology is multidisciplinary in that it combines or integrates several separate areas of study. [Gerontology] fosters collaboration between physicians, nurses, biologists, behavioral and social scientists, psychologists, social workers, economists, policy experts, those who study the humanities and the arts, and many other scholars and researchers in aging. Geriatrics, the branch of medical science concerned with the prevention and treatment of diseases in older people, is a part of the broader field of gerontology.
As a result of the multidisciplinary focus of gerontology, professionals from diverse fields call themselves gerontologists. Gerontologists improve the quality of life and promote the well-being of people as they age through research, education, practice, and the application of interdisciplinary knowledge of the aging process and aging populations.”