Educational Gerontology
Abstract
The term "educational gerontology" was first used in a 1970 doctoral program at the University of Michigan to denote those "activities and study that occur at the interface of education and gerontology" (Peterson 1980: 68).It achieved academic prominence some years later with the publication of the first issue of the international journal Educational Gerontology, where "educational gerontology" was defined as the:. . .study and practice of instructional endeavors for and about aged and aging individuals.It can be viewed as having three distinct, although interrelated, aspects: (1) educational endeavors designed for persons who are middle aged and older; (2) educational endeavors for a general or specific public about aging and older people; and (3) educational preparation of persons who are working or intend to be employed in serving older people in professional or paraprofessional capacities.(Peterson 1976: 62)