The Merck Manual of Health & Aging: The Comprehensive Guide to the Changes and Challenges of Aging- for Older Adults and Those Who Care For and About Them - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0911910360 ISBN 13: 9780911910360

Publisher: Merck, 2004

Synopsis

Home reference manual for older people and those who care about them.

About this title

About the Author

Mark H. Beers MD has been editor-in-chief of The Merck Manual since 2000. He is an associate Clinical Professor of Medicine-MCP at Drexel University.

Reviews

This mammoth reference book begins with the premise that "[t]he need for good, unbiased health care information runs deep, whether people are seeking to become more active in caring for themselves or others." It then goes on to provide for that need, covering all aspects of health changes through the process of aging, and explaining how to prevent or manage those changes. The book is easy to navigate and cross-reference, and includes simple but useful drawings to explain such conditions as aneurysms, heart valve disorders and pressure sores (aka bedsores). The first two sections address "the fundamentals of aging" (why aging occurs, how it affects the body and how it's changing the U.S.) and "caring for self and others," including preventive care, nutrition, appropriate use of drugs and other topics. The authors then go through an in-depth discussion of medical conditions that can affect the elderly, explaining symptoms, treatment and aftercare. This chapter supplies sound information to enhance interaction with health care providers and enable continuity of care, for both patients and caregivers. The final section covers social, legal and ethical issues and includes a guide to paying for health care and a useful reference table for prescription drugs. Twenty-five inspiring essays by seniors are sprinkled throughout the text, giving this encyclopedic text a human aspect. This excellent handbook is an essential resource for mature people, their families and caregivers.
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As our population ages, information about the aging process and caring for the elderly is a necessity. The Merck Manual of Health and Aging, a lay version of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics (3d ed., Wiley, 2000), provides it in a very accessible format.

The book has four sections. The first, "Fundamentals of Aging," covers such questions as when does a person become old, why does the body change, and how aging affects the organs and systems. Related issues, such as finances, living arrangements, and coping with chronic disease and disability, appear also. Section 2, "Caring for Self and Others," deals with preventive medical care, nutrition, continuity of care, long-term care, and palliative and end-of-life care. Section 3 covers specific medical conditions that are more common in the elderly: falls, sleep problems, movement disorders, heart disorders, cancers, etc. A chapter on the importance of exercise with recommendations for those with specific diseases is very useful. The last section, "Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues," provides vital information on the decision to stop driving, intimacy, mistreatment of the elderly, and health care costs. A chapter explaining informed consent, confidentiality, capacity and competency, and advance directives will help people prepare for medical treatment. Two appendixes cover the generic and trade names of drugs commonly prescribed for seniors and a referral list of organizations. Charts and sidebars offer useful supplemental information. Twenty-five essays in which people share their feelings and insights about aging are scattered throughout the book.

The Merck Manual of Health and Aging is unique because it focuses on how disorders are different in older adults rather than discussing all aspects of a disease. It also emphasizes adapting to the bodily changes of aging and finding effective ways to cope. It is reasonably priced and belongs in all public, medical, and consumer health libraries. Barbara Bibel
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Merck
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0911910360
• ISBN 13: 9780911910360
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 961
• Editor: Beers Mark H.