What Is Gerontology Management?

What Is Gerontology Management?

Gerontology management is concerned with planning, coordinating, delivering or ensuring access to services for older adults. These services may be medical, financial or supportive, such as coordinating healthcare access, in-home care, or Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

What Is Gerontology?

Gerontology is the comprehensive multidisciplinary study of aging and older adults.¹ It considers biological, clinical, psychological, sociological, legal, economic and political aspects of aging.

Gerontology vs. Geriatrics

Unlike gerontology, geriatrics is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing, managing and preventing medical problems in older adults. Gerontology takes a broad, multidisciplinary approach to aging, while geriatrics is a branch of medicine.

Gerontologists are the professionals who study aging and promote well-being among older adults. They typically hold at least a master’s degree in gerontology or a related field.²

Education and credential requirements differ by profession. Geriatric physicians and nurses must meet the education and licensure requirements applicable to their respective professions.

What Does Gerontology Management Involve?

This work may involve coordinating healthcare, financial resources, home care and other support services for older adults. Related courses may cover geriatric case management, sociology of aging, marketing to older adults, counseling, and senescence.

Potential Career Paths Related to Gerontology Management

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers, also known as healthcare administrators, oversee the daily operations of healthcare facilities, clinical areas, departments or group medical practices. Examples include nursing home administrators, clinical managers and health information managers.³

Their duties may include:

• Developing efficiency and quality goals and objectives of healthcare services
• Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance
• Preparing and monitoring budgets and managing finances
• Recruiting, training and supervising staff members
• Creating work schedules
• Representing the facility at meetings or on governing boards
• Maintaining facility-services records

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Relevant administrative or clinical healthcare experience may also be required.³

Where Gerontology Management Professionals Work

Professionals who coordinate services for older adults may work in nursing homes, assisted living or senior living communities, hospitals, home health agencies, government and nonprofit agencies, and other organizations serving older adults. Specific roles and requirements vary by employer.

Education Paths

Degree paths may include healthcare management, gerontology, business, sociology or related fields, sometimes with a concentration or specialization focused on aging services.

AIU’s Bachelor of Healthcare Management with a Gerontology Management specialization is designed to provide an opportunity to study healthcare management and services for older adults.

Topics include the U.S. healthcare system, regulation, healthcare costs, quality and access, long-term care, home care, rehabilitation, nursing care, community-based services and chronic care.

Courses in the specialization include:

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

Skills for Gerontology Management

Depending on the role, helpful skills may include organization, communication, budgeting, staff coordination, regulatory awareness, problem-solving and the ability to work with healthcare providers, families and community organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore Gerontology Management at AIU

Interested in exploring healthcare management focused on services for older adults? Learn more about AIU’s Bachelor of Healthcare Management with a Gerontology Management specialization, which includes coursework in case management, sociology and aging, marketing to an aging population, counseling, and death and dying.

₁ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. “Gerontology.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerontology Visited August 14, 2026.

₂ Cleveland Clinic. “What Is a Gerontologist?” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/gerontologist Visited August 14, 2026.

₃ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (visited August 14, 2026). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary or career advancement. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. REQ2254046 08/2026