Geriatric Medicine refers to that area of clinical practice that addresses the changes occurring late in life. These changes necessitate the need to recognize the resulting differences between the young and the old in presentation and management of disease. These changes also require understanding of the concomitant psychosocial concerns impacting on the quality of the lives of older patients. Geriatric medicine emphasizes assessment and maintenance of function. Geriatric Medicine stresses prevention of disease and addresses psychosocial issues by integrating the plan of care with community resources especially designed to serve older people and their families.

Geriatric Psychiatry involves the treatment of emotional and mental disorders affecting older adults, including depression, anxiety, memory disorders, stress and relationship problems in later life. Behavior problems of persons with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease are also a focus of geriatric psychiatry.

A Geriatrician is a physician who has been trained in geriatric medicine generally a family physician, an internist or psychiatrist.

Gerontology refers to the broad psychosocial and economic related to all aspects of aging.