How Will an Applied Gerontology Degree Help You Improve Quality of Life in Older Adults?
| 4 Min Read
As demographics shift, there is a growing need for professionals trained to understand and support adults through the process of aging. Brenau University’s Master of Science (MS) in Applied Gerontology online program offers a specialized education that prepares graduates to improve the quality of life for older adults through insights in psychology, human growth and development, elder law and physical aspects of aging.
According to Terry Fulmer, et al. in their article Actualizing Better Health and Health Care for Older Adults, “By 2030, more people in the United States will be older than age sixty-five than younger than age five.” Our current healthcare system is not ready for the complexity of older adult care, which includes physical, mental and social determinants.
This demographic shift creates an urgent need for professionals who understand the multifaceted nature of aging and can develop comprehensive approaches to elder care. Brenau University’s online MS in Applied Gerontology degree directly addresses this gap by training specialists who can improve quality of life for older adults.
Gerontology Defined
Gerontology is the study of the aging process and the challenges older adults face. The field includes biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging. Unlike geriatrics, which focuses on medical treatment, gerontology looks at aging from a broader perspective.
It seeks to understand how to promote healthy aging and maintain dignity throughout the later years of life. According to The Gerontologist, the aging experience is also shaped by social determinants like housing, income, and education. This makes interdisciplinary training important for anyone working with older populations.
Understanding Quality of Life in Older Adults
Quality of life (QoL) in older adults refers to their overall sense of well-being, which includes emotional, physical and social health. Unlike standard clinical measures, QoL reflects how individuals perceive their daily lives and personal satisfaction.
Factors that affect QoL in older adults include mobility, independence, pain management, mental health, financial stability and meaningful social connections. As people age, physical changes and losses in social roles or health status can affect how they experience life. Gerontology professionals must be equipped to understand these changes and respond in ways that support the older adult’s values and goals.
Improving the Quality of Life for Older Adults
Improving the quality of life for older adults means building a system that supports their health, independence and personal choices. The National Academy of Medicine’s Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 report, outlines six strategies to achieve this goal. These include training more professionals to work with older adults, increasing public health involvement in aging care, addressing health inequalities, enhancing care delivery, providing better support for end-of-life and serious illnesses, and reforming the payment and organization of long-term care.
When these steps are implemented and care is based on what matters most to each person, older adults are more likely to feel respected, supported and satisfied with their care. Graduates of Brenau’s online gerontology program are trained to use person-centered approaches. They learn to assess older adults holistically and create care plans that support independence, emotional well-being and community involvement.
Measuring Quality of Life in Older Adults
Quality of life in older adults is measured using both objective and subjective indicators. Objective factors may include physical function, cognitive status and the presence of chronic conditions.
Subjective factors include emotional well-being, sense of purpose and satisfaction with daily life. Tools such as the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scale and other geriatric assessment tools help practitioners evaluate these areas. Brenau’s MS in Applied Gerontology program prepares students to interpret these tools and use them to guide supportive interventions.
How a Degree in Gerontology Improves Quality of Life
Brenau University’s Applied Gerontology online degree stands out because it blends academic knowledge with practical application. Students explore:
• Psychology of aging: Understanding how memory, emotions and behavior change over time
• Physical aspects of aging: Recognizing mobility issues, sensory changes and chronic disease
• Human growth and development: Supporting individuals through the emotional transitions of later life
• Elder law and ethics: Navigating legal protections, advance directives and elder rights
• Grief, loss and communication: Helping older adults and families process end-of-life concerns
With this foundation, students are prepared to contribute to improving the quality of life of their patients. This can be in a variety of settings from long-term care facilities to senior centers, to hospitals or policy organizations.
Lead the Way in Enhancing Quality of Life for Older Adults
Brenau University’s online MS in Applied Gerontology program offers flexible learning designed for working professionals. The program fosters a deep understanding of older adults’ needs while preparing students to advocate for them in both clinical and community roles.
Through interdisciplinary coursework and evidence-based strategies, students become skilled at promoting healthy aging and enhancing older adults’ daily lives. With the growing demand for aging specialists, earning a gerontology degree online from Brenau University offers a meaningful way to make a difference by helping individuals age with dignity, independence and purpose.