Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on health promotion and the prevention and treatment of disease and disability in later life. The term itself can be distinguished from gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself. The term comes from the Greek "geron" meaning "old man" and "iatros" meaning "healer", and was proposed in 1909 by Dr. Ignatz Leo Nascher. It is cognate with Jara in Sanskrit which also means old.
The Geriatric Medicine Division at Paras Hospitals specialises in managing patients who are 65 years or older. This is because those above this age may be more frail, and require more attention in many areas of their life that could affect their well-being, namely: medical, nursing, functional, psychological, social, environmental and financial. Chronological age is not the only measure we use to decide who requires geriatric medicine care. These older persons usually have one or more of the following problems:

• Poor mobility (due to weakness, joint problems or unsteadiness in gait) and or difficulties with activities of daily living (like dressing, bathing,
feeding, grooming)
• Poor or declining cognition (depression, poor memory and suspected dementia)
• Incontinence of urine or bowel, and problems of constipation
• Multiple medical problems (requiring multiple medications)