Aging and Gerontology

This track is geared towards individuals interested in conducting research on aging-related topics or teaching gerontology at the academic level. Researchers in gerontology may explore areas such as the biology of aging, cognitive aging, health disparities, aging policy, and interventions for promoting healthy aging.

This track focuses on the management and administration of long-term care facilities and services for older adults, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care agencies. Professionals in this track may pursue careers as administrators, directors, or managers of aging services organizations.

The policy and advocacy track focuses on influencing public policies and legislation to address the needs and rights of older adults. Professionals in this track may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, or research institutes, advocating for policies that support aging populations and protect their interests.

This track focuses on providing direct clinical care to older adults. It involves training in geriatric assessment, multimorbidity management, medication management, geriatric syndromes (such as falls, delirium, and frailty), and end-of-life care. Professionals in this track may work as geriatricians, primary care physicians with a focus on geriatrics, or healthcare providers in geriatric specialty clinics, nursing homes, or hospital-based geriatric units.

Acute care geriatrics emphasizes the management of acute medical issues in older adults, particularly those admitted to hospitals or emergency departments. This track involves training in geriatric emergency medicine, perioperative care for older surgical patients, and hospital-based geriatric consultation services. Professionals in this track may work as hospitalists, emergency medicine physicians, or geriatricians providing acute care to older adults.

Geriatric psychiatry specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders in older adults. This track involves training in assessing and managing conditions such as depression, anxiety, dementia-related behavioral disturbances, late-life psychosis, and substance use disorders in older populations. Professionals in this track may work as geriatric psychiatrists in inpatient or outpatient settings, memory clinics, or nursing home facilities.

Rehabilitation geriatrics focuses on restoring functional independence and quality of life in older adults with physical disabilities or functional impairments. This track involves training in comprehensive geriatric rehabilitation assessments, interdisciplinary rehabilitation interventions, adaptive equipment prescription, and community reintegration strategies. Professionals in this track may work in inpatient rehabilitation units, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, or skilled nursing facilities.

It is known, as gerontological nursing is a specialized area of nursing that focuses on providing comprehensive care to older adults. Nurses in this field play a crucial role in promoting health, managing chronic conditions, preventing complications, and optimizing the quality of life for older patients. Geriatrics nurses conduct thorough assessments of older adults to identify their unique healthcare needs, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects. This assessment helps nurses develop individualized care plans tailored to the specific needs and preferences of older patients.

Older adults often have different nutritional requirements compared to younger adults due to changes in metabolism, body composition, and nutrient absorption. Geriatric nutrition takes into account factors such as decreased caloric needs, increased protein requirements to prevent muscle loss, and specific nutrient needs for bone health, immune function, and cognitive health.

As people age, they are more likely to experience urological issues due to changes in the urinary system, comorbidities, and age-related factors. Urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine, is a common urological issue in older adults. It can have a significant impact on quality of life and independence.

As people age, they are more likely to experience urological issues due to changes in the urinary system, comorbidities, and age-related factors. Urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine, is a common urological issue in older adults. It can have a significant impact on quality of life and independence.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in older adults, characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Geriatric endocrinologists develop individualized treatment plans for older adults with type 2 diabetes, focusing on lifestyle modifications (such as diet and exercise), oral antidiabetic medications, injectable therapies (such as insulin or glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists), and monitoring blood sugar levels to achieve glycemic control and prevent complications.