Gerontology and Geriatrics, a count of just over a century

Abstract

Throughout history man has been concerned about aging, both positively and negatively. This study aimed to describe the historical evolution of the specialty of Geriatrics and Gerontology, dedicated to the care of older adults. Gerontological scientific investigation began in the seventeenth century with Francis Bacón, who argued that human life be prolonged when sanitation and other social and medical conditions would improve. Its development is part starting from the second half of the twentieth century, in response to the phenomenon of population aging. In Cuba began in 1985 specialized hospital care to the elderly and in 1992 the Latin American Centre for Aging born Integral Program Elderly Care was founded. In the province of Villa Clara, in 1990, the creation of the Provincial Service Gerontological Geriatrics is officially licensed with positive results.

Keywords

• geriatría
• envejecimiento