"The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903..."
This subfield focuses on the needs of older adults and their families. Social workers in this field might help provide assistance with daily living activities, such as showering or dressing, or connect them with resources to improve their quality of life.
Aging and lifespan development theories: Explores the theories and models that explain aging and lifespan development, and how they apply to social work practice.
The aging process: Examines the physical, cognitive, psychological, and social changes that occur as individuals age, and how social workers can best address the needs associated with each stage of the process.
Health and wellness in aging: Focuses on the unique health and wellness needs of older adults, including age-related illness, chronic disease management, mental health, and healthcare access.
Family and caregiver support: Examines the ways that family members and caregivers can support older adults, how to identify and address caregiver stress and burnout, and how to foster positive relationships among family members.
Elder abuse and neglect: Explores the various types of elder abuse and neglect, including physical, emotional, and financial abuse, and provides strategies for identifying and addressing instances of abuse and neglect.
Long-term care and assisted living: Examines the different types of long-term care and assisted living facilities available to older adults and the specific needs that each type of facility addresses.
Policy and advocacy for aging populations: Explores the policies and regulations that govern services and programs for older adults, as well as the advocacy efforts that social workers can engage in to help ensure that policies are in place to meet the needs of aging populations.
Intervention and treatment strategies: Provide an overview of the various intervention and treatment strategies that social workers can use to help address the needs of older adults, including individual counseling, group therapy, and family interventions.
Ethics in aging and gerontology social work: Examines ethical considerations and dilemmas that arise when working with older adults and their families, including issues related to autonomy, informed consent, and end-of-life decision making.
Cultural competency in aging: Focuses on the unique needs and perspectives of older adults from different cultural backgrounds, and provides strategies for building cultural competency and sensitivity when working with diverse populations.
"...from the Greek γέρων (gérōn), meaning 'old man,' and -λογία (-logía), meaning 'study of'."
"The field is distinguished from geriatrics, which 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."
"The multidisciplinary nature of gerontology means that there are a number of sub-fields which overlap with gerontology."
"There are policy issues, for example, involved in government planning and the operation of nursing homes, investigating the effects of an aging population on society, and the design of residential spaces for older people..."
"Dr. Lawton, a behavioral psychologist at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, was among the first to recognize the need for living spaces designed to accommodate the elderly..."
"...especially those with Alzheimer's disease."
"The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology created the first PhD, master's and bachelor's degree programs in gerontology in 1975."
"Gerontology is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of aging."
"Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in various fields such as 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."
"Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults."
"As an academic discipline, the field is relatively new."
"...specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults."
"...facilitate the development of a sense of place or home."
"...recognize the need for living spaces designed to accommodate the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer's disease."
"There are policy issues involved in government planning and the operation of nursing homes..."
"...investigating the effects of an aging population on society..."
"The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903..."
"The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology created the first PhD, master's and bachelor's degree programs in gerontology in 1975."