Definition
A branch of medicine that focuses on the health care and diseases of older adults.
Etymology
From Greek *gēras* “old age” + *iatros* “doctor.” Coined in the early 1900s as life expectancy increased and doctors recognized that older patients have specific medical needs. It parallels *pediatrics*, which focuses on children.
Kelly Says
Geriatrics treats aging not as a single problem, but as a whole new phase of life with its own patterns and strengths. As populations age, this field quietly reshapes societies, from hospital design to how we think about work and retirement.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
የአገልግሎት ህክምና
ye-a-gel-glot hik-m-na
ARالعربية
طب الشيخوخة
tabb ash-shaykhukha
BNবাংলা
বৃদ্ধবিদ্যা
britt-bid-ya
CACatalà
geriatria
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
CSČeština
geriatrie
zheh-ree-ah-tree
DADansk
geriatrik
ge-ree-ah-trik
DEDeutsch
Geriatrie
ge-ree-a-tree
ELΕλληνικά
geriατρική
ger-ee-a-tri-kee
ESEspañol
geriatría
he-ree-ah-tree-ah
FAفارسی
geriatri
ge-ree-ah-tri
FISuomi
geriatri
ge-ree-ah-tri
FRFrançais
gériatrie
zheh-ree-ah-tree
GUGU
જીવનકલ્પ
jee-van-kalp
HAHA
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
HEעברית
גריאטריה
ge-ree-a-tree-ah
HIहिन्दी
वृद्धाचर्य
vrddhaacharya
HUMagyar
geriátria
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
IDBahasa Indonesia
geriatri
ge-ree-ah-tree
IGIG
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
ITItaliano
geriatria
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
KKKK
geriatriya
ge-ree-a-tree-ya
KMKM
សុខាភិប្បាល
sok-a-phi-p-pal
MRMR
ज्येष्ठवैद्यकीय
jyeshtha-vaidyak
MSBahasa Melayu
geriatri
ge-ree-ah-tri
MYမြန်မာ
အာဂုံ ဆေး
a-gu-gon say
NLNederlands
geriatrie
zheh-ree-ah-tree
NONorsk
geriatrik
ge-ree-ah-trik
PAPA
ਜੀਵਨકਾਲ
jee-van-kaal
PLPolski
geriatria
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
PTPortuguês
geriatria
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
RORomână
geriatriă
zheh-ree-ah-tree-ah
RUРусский
geriатрия
ge-ree-a-tree-ya
SVSvenska
geriatrik
ge-ree-ah-trik
SWKiswahili
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
TAதமிழ்
வயதுவந்த மருத்துவம்
vayathuvaththa maruththavam
TEతెలుగు
వృద్ధుల వైద్యం
vruththulu vaidhyam
THไทย
ศัลยศาสตร์ geriatri
sa-la-ya-sat ger-ee-a-tri
TLTL
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
TRTürkçe
jetabilirlik
jeh-tah-bil-ir-lik
UKУкраїнська
geriатрия
ge-ree-a-tree-ya
VITiếng Việt
chuyên khoa lão khoa
chuyen khoa lao khoa
YOYO
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
ZUZU
geriatrics
ge-ree-a-triks
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Geriatrics has often intersected with gendered expectations about caregiving and aging, with women both overrepresented as caregivers and sometimes under-treated as patients. Research and practice have historically reflected biases about older women’s and men’s needs and capacities.
Inclusive Usage
Use gender-neutral language when referring to older adults unless gender is medically relevant, and avoid stereotypes about aging that differ by gender (e.g., assumptions about frailty or dependence).
Inclusive Alternatives
["care of older adults","geriatric medicine"]
Empowerment Note
Recognize the contributions of women clinicians, caregivers, and researchers in geriatrics, and the specific challenges older women have faced in accessing equitable care.