Gerontology

 Gerontology

Gerontology is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing. The field is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that specialises 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.

The multidisciplinary nature of gerontology means that several subfields overlap with gerontology.

The subject covers sleep disorders, forgetfulness, how to strengthen memory, and the causes of mortality.  While the number of aged humans and the life expectancy tended to increase in every century since the 14th, society tended to consider caring for an elderly relative as a family issue.

Geriatrics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the health needs of older adults. It involves diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases, as well as management of multiple chronic

Ageing demographics

The world is forecast to undergo rapid population ageing. In 1900, there were 3.1 million people aged 65 years and older living in the United States. It has been estimated that 25% of the population in the United States and Canada will be aged 65 years and older by 2025. Moreover, by 2050, it is predicted that, for the first time in United States history, the number of individuals aged 60 years and older will be greater than the number of children aged 0 to 14 years. 

Biogerontology is the special subfield of gerontology concerned with the biological ageing process, its evolutionary origins, and potential means to intervene in the process. The aim of biogerontology is to prevent age-related disease. Some argue that aging fits the criteria of disease, therefore aging is disease and should be treated as disease.

Repairing inside cells and between them all that can be repaired using modern technology, allowing people to live until the time when technological progress will allow us to cure deeper damage. This concept got the name "longevity escape velocity".

A meta-analysis of 36 studies concluded that there is an association between age and DNA damage in humans, a finding consistent with the DNA damage theory of ageing.

Social gerontology

Social gerontology is a multi-disciplinary sub-field that specializes in studying or working with older adults. Social gerontologists may have degrees or training in social work, nursing, psychology, sociology, demography, public health, or other social science disciplines. Social gerontologists are responsible for educating, researching, and advancing the broader causes of older people.

Activity theory was developed in order for older adults to maintain morale in old age; substitutions must be made for lost roles. Examples of lost roles include retirement from a job or the loss of a spouse.

Activity is preferable to inactivity because it facilitates well-being on multiple levels. Because of improved general health and prosperity in the older population, remaining active is more feasible. Weakness: Some ageing persons cannot maintain a middle-aged lifestyle, due to functional limitations, lack of income, or lack of a desire to do so. Many older adults lack the resources to maintain active roles in society.

Disengagement theory - older adults and society engage in a mutual separation from each other. An example of mutual separation is retirement from the workforce. A key assumption of this theory is that older adults lose "ego-energy" and become increasingly self-absorbed. Additionally, disengagement leads to higher morale maintenance than if older adults try to maintain social involvement.

Gradual withdrawal from society and relationships preserves social equilibrium and promotes self-reflection for elders who are freed from societal roles. It furnishes an orderly means for the transfer of knowledge, capital, and power from the older generation to the young. It makes it possible for society to continue functioning after valuable older members die.

There are two differences among strata: chronological age and historical experience. This theory makes two arguments. 1. Age is a mechanism for regulating behaviour and, as a result, determines access to positions of power. 2. Birth cohorts play an influential role in the process of social change.

 Ageing occurs from birth to death. Ageing involves social, psychological, and biological processes. Additionally, ageing experiences are shaped by cohort and period effects.

Dramatic reductions in mortality, morbidity, and fertility over the past several decades have so shaken up the organisation of the life course and the nature of educational, work, family, and leisure experiences that it is now possible for individuals to become old in new ways. The configurations and content of other life stages are being altered as well, especially for women.

 Inequalities have a tendency to become more pronounced throughout the ageing process. A paradigm of this theory can be expressed in the adage "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". Advantages and disadvantages in early life stages have a profound effect throughout the life span. However, advantages and disadvantages in middle adulthood have a direct influence on economic and health status in later life.

What is geriatric medicine?

Geriatric medicine offers help to older adults, but it does not refer to a specific age range. Instead, geriatric care is mostly offered based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), on which treatment is based on.

Similarly, while it is a specialised area of medicine in its own right, it is also multidisciplinary, covering many different areas of diagnosis and treatment. Some areas covered by geriatric medicine may include cardiology, urology, respiratory health, and more. Geriatric medicine can also overlap with gerontology, which is the wider study of ageing. While the two disciplines are separate, the findings from one can help to inform and develop the other. The difference between the elderly and geriatric

Geriatrics is the area of medicine that supports those who could be considered elderly, while “elderly” is a description of an age group. Elderly is used more widely as an adjective, while geriatric tends to refer to more specific areas of medicine and research.

Elderly is more commonly used to describe someone’s age or to group older individuals based on their age, while geriatric is considered to be a more medicalised term. Consequently, “geriatric” is more likely to be used in medical settings and research than it is to be used conversationally. Moreover, the term is not often used to describe an individual but rather to describe the whole field.  Medicine

Why is it important?

Elderly is a fairly non-specific term that refers to a widely varying group.  This means that using the term clinically could fail to offer the depth and specificity needed to offer valuable support. As “elderly” commonly refers to individuals over 65, it could also erase or exclude the needs of slightly younger individuals who experience age-related health concerns while being slightly younger, such as those aged 60 to 64.

Geriatric medicine, on the other hand, can offer support based on mental and physical assessments instead. It is also a varied discipline, which is inclusive of a wider range of specialisms. This multidisciplinary approach also means it could be catered more suitably to patients’ needs. This field may allow for a more inclusive approach to be taken when supporting patients and researching the older population.

It is important for people—both medical and non-medical—to understand the healthcare needs of older people. The rising average age in many countries makes this especially important, as more and more people need to access high-quality and wide-ranging geriatric medicine. Understanding the difference could also help when trying to access healthcare.

Different ways of supporting older adults

Differentiating clearly between groups of older adults could improve research and care. Older adults are a diverse group. Even just in terms of age alone, without considering other factors, older adults can vary significantly. The medical needs of a 65-year-old could differ greatly from those of a 95-year-old.  Focusing on need and ability may be more productive in offering support to older adults than looking to age as an indicator of health alone. This approach is already taken in some areas of medicine, as reflected by some initiatives that offer support to older adults at a lower age than what is typically considered to be elderly. One example is Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the United States, which has a minimum age of 55.

There is a significant movement to look at the “frailty” of patients instead of age alone for a more accurate understanding of the needs of the group.⁹ Frailty means that someone may be less likely to recover smoothly from accidents and illness. Experiencing frailty is not exclusive to older adults, but all older adults are at risk of developing it, particularly those with other conditions

Geriatric Medicine is a specialty branch of medicine that deals with the ageing process, the diseases of old age, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It aims to promote health, prevent diseases and disabilities in elderly people. Socioeconomic condition is a major modifying factor. It focuses on the prevention of diseases and mortality and needs regular and periodic medical checkups.

A little support, proactive care, early detection of problems and timely intervention with proper advice can change the life of the senior citizens dramatically, making them more independent, healthy, and productive. It is a multidisciplinary affair and needs a coordinated and cohesive elder care team to take care of these senior citizens.

Our dedicated team of experienced Doctors from the field of Geriatrics and other Home Care Experts understands the Elders and their needs better. We provide individualised medical and non-medical home care services based on their recommendations that can help senior citizens live a safer and comfortable life.

Benefits Of Home Care

 -  Proactive care with regular monitoring and early intervention, and treatment of disease or disability

-  Lower cost, flexible, and more affordable plans

-   Facilitates early discharge from the hospital

-   More independence and comfort of staying at your own home amidst family members, friends, and pets

-   Better family support and care help with faster recovery

-   Cost-effective substitute for hospitalization for home-manageable cases with early initiation of treatment by an experienced home care team.

Ageing and age-related diseases are increasingly urgent global challenges as the proportion of older adults continues to rise. Gerontology, the oldest journal in the field, is uniquely positioned to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective. Covering both fundamental and applied research, it aims to advance our understanding of ageing and promote strategies that enhance longevity and quality of life.

The multiple specialised sections:

·        Clinical Gerontology – focusing on ageing processes rather than geriatric care.

·        Experimental Gerontology – Features cutting-edge research in the biology of aging, including molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms.

·        Behavioural Science – Explores cognitive, psychological, and social aspects of ageing, along with developmental processes across the lifespan.

·        Regenerative Science – Examines the fundamental and applied aspects of tissue regeneration, stem cell therapy, and regenerative medicine in aging.

·        Technological Innovations – Showcases advancements in assistive technology, digital health, and biomedical engineering designed to support aging populations.

By bridging disciplines and fostering collaboration, Gerontology provides a premier platform for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers dedicated to addressing the complexities of ageing in both humans and animal models.

Environmental gerontology

Environmental gerontology is a specialisation within gerontology that seeks an understanding and interventions to optimise the relationship between ageing persons and their physical and social environments.

 Studies of environmental gerontology indicate that older people prefer to age in their immediate environment, whereas spatial experience and place attachment are important for understanding the process.

Some research indicates that the physical-social environment is related to the longevity and quality of life of the elderly. Precisely, the natural environment contributes to active and healthy ageing in the place.

Jurisprudential gerontology is a specialisation within gerontology that looks into the ways laws and legal structures interact with the ageing experience. The field started from legal scholars in the field of elder law, who found that looking into legal issues of older persons without a broader inter-disciplinary perspective does not provide the ideal legal outcome.

Aging and age-related diseases are increasingly urgent global challenges as the proportion of older adults continues to rise. Gerontology, the oldest journal in the field, is uniquely positioned to provide a truly interdisciplinary perspective. Covering both fundamental and applied research, it aims to advance our understanding of ageing and promote strategies that enhance longevity and quality of life.

The multiple specialised:

·        Clinical Gerontology – focusing on ageing processes rather than geriatric care.

·        Experimental Gerontology – Features cutting-edge research in the biology of ageing, including molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms.

·        Behavioural Science – Explores cognitive, psychological, and social aspects of ageing, along with developmental processes across the lifespan.

·        Regenerative Science – Examines the fundamental and applied aspects of tissue regeneration, stem cell therapy, and regenerative medicine in ageing.

·        Technological Innovations – Showcases advancements in assistive technology, digital health, and biomedical engineering designed to support ageing populations.

 

By bridging disciplines and fostering collaboration, Gerontology provides a premier platform for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers dedicated to addressing the complexities of ageing in both humans and animal models.