SRINAGAR: Gerontology, the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing has come up as a new course as longevity of life has increased around the world over the past century.
The focus of the course remains on the ageing process and the problems elderly people face in old age. It is one of the vast fields of study in which various social, physical and mental changes in older people are examined.
In India, degree courses in Gerontology are offered rarely as compared to other countries in the West.
Many universities have already started offering PG Diploma and Certificate courses. Also, candidates who are graduates in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work and Biology can opt for the course.
An aspirant can start volunteering in Non-Governmental Organisations or old age homes. Many healthcare centres for senior citizens, clinics, companies, and nursing homes are often on the lookout for specialists in the field as consultants thus making the course more relevant.
One can also find employment in residential retirement communities attending to the physical and emotional needs of senior citizens.
Some of the institutions offering Gerontology courses are Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai; Institute of Home Economics, New Delhi; Ramnarayan Ruia College, Mumbai and Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Kolkata
