Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or physician who specializes in the care of elderly people. Rather, this decision is determined by the individual patient's needs, and the availability of a specialist.

Geriatrics, the care of aged people, differs from gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself. The term geriatrics comes from the Greek geron meaning "old man" and iatros meaning "healer". However, geriatrics is sometimes called medical gerontology.

Subspecialties:
Geriatric psychiatry:

Geriatric psychiatry, also known as geropsychiatry, psychogeriatrics or psychiatry of old age, is a subspecialty of psychiatry dealing with the study, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders in humans with old age. After a 4 year residency in psychiatry, a psychiatrist can complete a one year fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. As the population ages, particularly in developing countries this field is becoming more needed. The diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia are one area of this field.

Cardio geriatrics or Geriatric cardiology:

It is the branch of cardiology and geriatric medicine that deals with the cardiovascular disorders in elderly.

Cardiac disorders as coronary heart disease (including myocardial infarction), heart failure, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias (as atrial fibrillation) and others are common and are a major cause of mortality in elderly. Vascular disorders as atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease cause significant morbidity and mortality in elderly.

Geriatric nephrology:

It is the branch of internal medicine and geriatric medicine that deals with diseases of the kidney. It is a growing subspecialty of geriatrics. Patients who are living longer may acquire diseases that accelerate chronic kidney disease, which often remains undetected until patients are confronted with the sudden need for dialysis.

Geriatric dentistry:

Geriatric dentistry or gerodontics is the delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.

Geriatric rehabilitation:

Geriatric rehabilitation or Geriatric Physical Therapy is the branch of medicine that studies rehabilitation and physical therapy issues in elderly.

Geriatric oncology:

Geriatric oncology is the branch of medicine that studies benign and malignant tumors in elderly.

Geriatric rheumatology:

Geriatric rheumatology is the branch of medicine that studies rheumatologic disorders in elderly (joints, muscles & other structures around the joints). Sometimes it is called Gerontorheumatology.

The geriatric rheumatology clinic provides evaluation and management services to patients with various musculoskeletal and soft tissue disorders. Evaluation of the elderly patient is often complex due to the many co morbid conditions encountered in this population often compounded by cognitive disorders, functional decline, polypharmacy and limited social supports.