The word gerontology derives from Greek and essentially refers to the study of aging.  Biogerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself, is part of an education in gerontology.  An interesting branch of these studies explores the relation between the process of aging itself and diseases that associated with it.  Technically, however, gerontology encompasses a wider scope than this and consists of more than simply what biological changes the body undergoes as it ages.  Professionals in this field also conduct research concerning how aging affects the human mind and even all of society.  Still, most people associate gerontology with research that relates to fighting elderly illnesses.

A job as a gerontology nurse is one that certainly could be within reach for you.  With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, more and more elderly people are finding themselves in need of medical care.  More attention than ever is being devoted to developing better treatments for elderly patients.  Many "regular" nurses are changing the focus of their career to be more geared toward elderly care to help fill the need in this area of the healthcare industry.  In fact, gerontology is currently the fastest-growing of all patient care specialties, a growth that is not expected to decline for at least a few decades from now.

If you go into gerontology, your job will be to provide treatment for the elderly in hospitals, private medical offices, nursing homes, and even the homes of the patients themselves.  You will play an important role in management, education, and administrative responsibilities.  In order to become well educated in the aspects that are most important for a gerontologist to know, you will need to take courses that are designed to provide you with knowledge about the unique specialty care required with elderly patients, which differ quite significantly from younger patients.

Some gerontology programs will provide you with an interesting look at the role genetics play in the aging process.  This kind of study is called genomics, the instruction of which can help you realize why certain therapies are beneficial for only some patients and why certain groups of people are more susceptible to chronic conditions than others.  An additional area of specialized information you may be trained in is physical therapy and nutrition for the elderly so you can help your patients live a higher quality of life well into their old age.

Because of the area of specializations that gerontology nurses must be knowledgeable in, the pay is slightly higher than your average nurse's salary.  The national average, which depends on experience, the state you are employed, the type of job, and your certification, is $55,000.  Higher-end salaries are more than $70,000 per year, though this kind of figure is generally only seen in areas with high costs of living like the east and west coasts.  No matter the precise salary, gerontology nurses tend to appreciate great employment benefits, which alone is a draw to enter the profession if you are considering it.