What Do Gerontologist Do?
Gerontologists are professionals who specialize in gerontology, which is the study of the aging process. Gerontology focuses on the social, psychological and biological components of aging. With so many aspects to the field of gerontology, it should be expected that gerontologists are just as varied. If you want to know what gerontologists do, you first have to know what kind of gerontologist you are talking about.
While gerontologists can specialize in many aspects of the aging process, there are two main categories of gerontology- biological and social. Within these two categories, there are many subcategories and more continue to be added.
Biological
Biological gerontologists do their work in the laboratory. They study the aging process on a cellular level. This aspect of gerontology is often confused with geriatrics, which focuses on diseases and other health conditions that are attributed to old age. While gerontologists can lend their expertise in the efforts to combat geriatric disease, the main focus is the indiscriminate phases that each and every person goes through while aging.
One industry where the work of gerontologists is most visible is the beauty industry. Cosmetic industries use the research of gerontologist to create their many anti-aging products.
Social
Social gerontologists do their work out in the field, working with people rather than microscopes. This particular aspect of gerontology focuses on advocacy and the well being of older people. Unlike, biological gerontology, social gerontology is a field that is constantly presented with new issues. For example, a social gerontologist might study how well older people are coping in today’s highly technological society. This is an issue that would not have been relevant even 30 years ago.
Not only do social gerontologist study how well older people are coping but they also study how society copes with its older citizens. Ageism is one of the biggest obstacles facing older adults and is a direct reflection of society’s perception of the elderly. A gerontologist may not only study the causes of ageism but also be involved in the protest against it. Social gerontology is a broad field covering education, fitness, social issues, emotional issues, financial issues and many other issues as they pertain to older adults and gerontologists are involved in many different ways on these issues, from research to activism.