geriatric
/ˌdʒɛrɪˈatrɪk
/adjective
1Relating to old people, especially with regard to their health care: a geriatric hospital...
- Max's main studies related to the organisation of primary health services and geriatric healthcare delivery in Israel and he was committed to medical education.
- How can standards in geriatric health care be raised?
- Compared with these school environments, the indoor climates at our geriatric hospitals were characterized by higher room temperatures and lower relative humidity.
1.1 informal Decrepit; very old or outdated: replacements for a geriatric locomotive fleet...
- Like the Sea Kings, the Sikorsky Cyclones chosen on July 23 to replace Canada's geriatric fleet of Sea Kings rely on two engines.
noun
An old person, especially one receiving special care: a rest home for geriatrics...
- In both hospitals, the next most often targeted patient types were geriatrics, oncology, and renal patients.
- Most of the residents here are geriatrics with senile dementia.
- Let the people vote in who they want to even if he is a senile geriatric with one foot already in the grave.
Usage
Geriatric is the normal, semi-official term used in Britain and the US when referring to the health care of old people (a geriatric ward; geriatric patients). When used outside such contexts, it typically carries overtones of being worn out and decrepit and can therefore be offensive if used with reference to people.
Origin
1920s: from Greek gēras 'old age' + iatros 'doctor', on the pattern of paediatric.
This word is made up of Greek gēras ‘old age’ and iatros ‘doctor’.