Geriatrics in relation to the social and behavioural sciences

Social and behavioural gerontology is the scientific study of how men and women adapt to their environment as they grow older. It is a multidisciplinary area, comprising subjects each of which asserts an existence in its own right, as a scientific enterprise, apart from other subjects in the area, and apart from geriatrics. Social and behavioural gerontology, however, forms part of the total context within which geriatrics gets its meaning and value. Geriatrics, in turn, affects these other adjacent disciplines. Social and behavioural gerontology could help in a general way by putting geriatrics into this wide perspective and thus demonstrating the wider issues that might otherwise be neglected in the busy round of geriatric care. Social and behavioural gerontology could also help in numerous particular ways such as: the collection of normative data; improved conceptual analysis; better methods of observation, experimentation, measurement and data analysis; the integration of social and behavioural case-work with clinical geriatrics for both treatment and training purposes; improved techniques of social and behavioural assessment; improvements in communication; better social attitldes; increased self-help and understanding of the role of the elderly in society; more effective consumer behaviour; and more effective social policies incorporating long-range, broad-spectrum preventive measures.