Geriatrics is a medical branch that deals with the treatment and prevention of diseases and disability that occurs in the old age thus it focuses on the promotion of healthy living for the elderly. This term is different from gerontology which is a medicine branch that deals with the aging process itself. This term is derived from the Greek word “geros” which means “old man while “iatros” means “healer”.
Geriatric psychology thus is the study of science in order to understand, predict and control behavior associated with health issues that occur in the later ages. As human beings grow older, there are certain conditions that are common and thus it at in this point in time that Geropsychologists comes in. In order to join this lucrative medicine sector, you must be a holder of a PhD degree in psychology.
Geriatric psychology came into existence in the 1970s, but prior to this period, there was little on this medicine field. During this period, most physicians in the United States began to age and they came to realize that there is need to understand some of the age related illnesses like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The demand for geriatric psychologists is growing each day since a larger percentage of the population is growing old and that we are in a baby boomer generation. The work of a geriatric psychology is to assist older people to deal with such issues as memory problems, stress, and anxiety in a healthier fashion, and death.
Geriatric psychologists are really assets in the community since without them families will be faced with a lot of problems dealing with the elderly that is why their services are crucial. The elderly can be faced with some emotional problems like heart diseases, chronic pain, strokes and diabetes and geriatric psychologists are there to assist these patients ease their suffering. Geriatric psychologists work with care givers and physicians and they act as advisers to most health care professionals and nurses. Geriatric psychology will be developed further if the community is educated and if the stakeholders advocate for a policy in the public health care sector.