Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or geriatric physician, a physician who specializes in the care of elderly people. Rather, this decision is determined by the individual patient's needs and the availability of a specialist. It is important to note the difference between geriatrics, the care of aged people and gerontology, which is the study of the aging process itself. Geriatrics is also called as medical gerontology.