What Is Gerontology Management?

Gerontology vs. Geriatrics

Unlike gerontology, geriatrics is a medical specialty dedicated to diagnosing, managing and preventing medical problems in the elderly. A main difference between gerontology and geriatrics is that where gerontology takes a broad, multidisciplinary approach to the study of aging, geriatrics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the problems and diseases associated with old age.

Another difference between gerontology and geriatrics is the degree/level of education required to work in the field. Gerontologists, a type of sociologist, typically need to hold a master’s degree in gerontology or a related field.³ In contrast, geriatric physicians must hold a medical degree (Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)) and be licensed to practice medicine, and geriatric nurses must hold a registered nurse (RN) license and gerontology/geriatric certification. Each of these roles (gerontologist, geriatric physician, geriatric nurse) also has its own experience and continuing education requirements.

What Is Gerontology Management?

Gerontology management is concerned with planning, coordinating, delivering or ensuring access to services for older adults. Such services may be medical (e.g., doctor appointments), financial (e.g., Medicare/Medicaid), or supportive (e.g., in-home care services). Gerontology management-related courses may include coverage of geriatric case management, sociological issues related to old age, marketing to older adults, psychological issues/counseling of older adults, and senescence (aging, dying, and death).

Potential Healthcare Management and Gerontology Career Paths

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers, also known as healthcare administrators, oversee the daily operations for an entire healthcare facility, a clinical area or department within that facility, or a group medical practice. Their job duties largely depend on where they work and their area of expertise. Examples of medical and health services managers/healthcare administrators are nursing home administrators, clinical managers and health information managers.⁴

Their day-to-day job duties may include the following:⁴

• Developing efficiency and quality goals and objectives
• Ensuring the facility’s legal and regulatory compliance
• Creating and tracking budgets and manage finances, including patient fees and billing
• Recruiting, training and supervising staff members
• Creating work schedules
• Representing their employer at investor meetings or on governing boards
• Maintain facility services records, such as the number of inpatient beds being used

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Health administration, nursing and business degrees are common among those who pursue this career path. Aspiring medical and health services managers also may need to have relevant work experience in an administrative or a clinical role, in a hospital or other type of healthcare facility.⁴

Sociologist

Sociologists study society and social behavior, interaction and organization. They examine the effect of social influences on individuals and groups, and they may focus their studies on a specific group.³

Their day-to-day job duties may include the following:³

• Designing research projects to test theories about social issues
• Using surveys, observations, interviews, etc. to collect data
• Analyzing and drawing conclusions from data
• Detailing/documenting their research findings
• Collaborating with others regarding research findings and sociological issues
• Creating strategies or policies to solve social problems

Their research may be used to solve social problems and formulate public policy. Sociologists may also specialize in a particular area, and their job title may reflect their area of focus.³ Examples of such job titles are criminologist, gerontologist, and demographer.

Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation, though some employers may prefer to hire candidates with a PhD.³

Social and Human Services Assistants

Social and human service assistants provide support services in a number of fields, including psychology, rehabilitation and social work. Many different job titles fall under the social and human service assistant umbrella: case work aide, clinical social work aide, family service assistant, etc.⁵

Their day-to-day job duties may include the following:⁵

• Helping to determine what type of aid their clients need
• Working with clients and others to develop treatment plans
• Helping clients find assistance with daily activities, such as eating and bathing
• Researching social services that clients may be eligible for, such as food stamps and Medicaid
• Coordinating services provided to clients
• Helping clients complete paperwork for assistance programs
• Checking in with clients to ensure that services are provided appropriately

Social and human services assistants who work with older adults may help them to live independently and remain in their own home, as opposed to moving to a residential care facility. In other cases, they may help clients who are looking for a residential care facility, such as an assisted living facility or a nursing home, to move to.⁵

Different Types of Gerontology Degree Programs

Those who are interested in pursuing a degree program focused on healthcare issues and older adults have several options. In addition to gerontology degree programs, colleges and universities may offer degree programs in healthcare management, business, sociology and social science, perhaps with the option to specialize or concentrate in gerontology or gerontology management.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management—Gerontology Management

American InterContinental University’s Bachelor of Healthcare Management online degree program is designed to help students prepare to pursue a management or administrative career path in the healthcare industry. The program focuses on the planning, directing and coordination of health services in various types of organizations, as well as other core concepts in healthcare management and administration.

In the Gerontology Management degree specialization, students have the opportunity to study the U.S. healthcare system’s structure, operations and regulatory environment, with a particular focus on managing healthcare services for older adults. Topics may include healthcare costs, quality and access for seniors. Long-term care, short-term care, home care, rehabilitation, nursing care, community-based services and chronic care are all discussed.

Courses in the Gerontology Management specialization may include:

• Case Management for Gerontology
• Sociology and Aging
• Marketing to an Aging Population
• Counseling for Gerontology
• Death and Dying

Prospective students who are interested in the business side of healthcare may also want to explore AIU’s other healthcare-related offerings, including the Bachelor of Healthcare Management—Health Services Administration Management and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree—Healthcare Management online degree programs.

¹ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “gerontology,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerontology (last visited Jan. 14, 2025).
² “Ch. 3 Principles of Gerontology,” in Aging in Today’s Environment (National Academies Press (U.S.) 1987), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218728/ (last visited Jan. 14, 2025).
³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (last visited Jan. 14, 2025). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
⁴ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sociologists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm (last visited Jan. 14, 2025). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
⁵ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social and Human Service Assistants, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-and-human-service-assistants.htm (last visited Jan. 14, 2025). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment, salary, or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2108081 2/2025