01. Introduction to Geriatric

First of all I would like to differentiate between geriatric, gerontology and gerontics. The term geriatric meaning relating to medical treatment. Geriatric is the medical specialty that deals with the physiology of aging, and with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the aged. 

One the other hand, Gerontology is the study of all aspects of the aging process, incluiding the clinical, phychologic, economic, and sociologic problems of older adults and the consequences of these problems for older adults and society. And finally, Gerontics is the nursing care and the service provided to older adults.

I thought the elderly was from retirement, but it is not. Depending on the age, the elderly has a name or other. For example: 55 to 64 is older, 65 to 74 is elderly, 75 to 84 is aged or middle-old, 85 and older is extremely aged or old-old.

A healthy elderly meets this criterion, but a geriatric patient characterized by: Over 75 years, relevant comorbidity, Main disabling disease, with mental pathology, with social problems in relation to his health.

I think that is very important to know well the aged care because it is the sector of the population that more go to health centers, due to their age and physical, phychological and phychosocial changes over the years.

Also I would like to say that in last years there has had an increase in life expectancy by all scientific advances. Consequently the majority of population is old.