Written with warmth and clarity, this book belongs in the hands of anyone who has agonized over an aging friend or relative or worries about his own capacity to remember. No physical problem is as destructive or frightening as the loss of memory. Stress, pain, depression, overmedication, stroke, or Alzheimer's disease -- these are just some of the causes. In this fully revised and updated book, an internationally known neurosurgeon and researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital outlines the latest treatments that help reverse memory loss: New forms of memory recently discovered by researchers, new tests to evaluate memory capacity, new research on the effects of prescription medications, including widely used antidepressants, and brain "poisons", new research on the important role of nutrition and exercise in promoting memory, advances in early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's, and promising new research on the regeneration of damaged brain cells.

This volume presents a series of case narratives, following individual patients and families throughout the course of illness and death in the context of hospice and palliative care. Using a variety of qualitative research methods, including participant-observation, interviews, and journal-keeping, the experiences, perceptions, and feelings of the patient, the family and a range of caregivers are recorded, providing the reader with rich, multi-textured narratives. Going beyond conventional case reports in Medicine, typically concentrating on symptoms and treatment, these narratives depict how individuals find personal meaning in illness, and how this influences the experience and outcome of care.

We live in an ageing society, where people are living longer, and where decreases in the birth rate mean that the proportion of the population above retirement age is steadily increasing. An ageing population has considerable implications for health services and care provision. Consequently there is a growing interest among researchers, medical practitioners, and policy makers in older adults, their capabilities, and the changes in their cognitive functioning. This book offers an up-to-the-minute account of the latest methodological and theoretical issues in cognitive ageing. Part of the Debates in Psychology series, it sets out the arguments surrounding the currently controversial questions in cognitive ageing. What is the appropriate methodology for understanding cognitive change? How many factors are necessary to understand the patterns of age-related change? What might these factors be? The topics and arguments are explored in a series of chapters by the leading researchers in the field. Each contributor offers their view of how cognitive ageing can be best understood, and together they cover a broad range of cognitive functions including language use, cognitive slowing, and memory loss. Each of the chapters stands alone as the latest review of work in the area. Taken together, the chapters form a coherent theoretical debate through which the reader will learn about the dynamic nature of cognitive ageing research, and about the direction this research will be taking in the future. Models of Cognitive Aging will be an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in the elderly, and in their cognitive abilities.

The emphasis of this book is on a positive examination of the care of older people with a dementing illness, and of the key aspects of this care. Each subject is discussed from a practical knowledge-based perspective, and the fundamental belief underlying the book is that many of the so-called problems associated with dementia can be minimised or resolved through creative management.

This valuable resource makes it easier than ever for clinicians to create formal treatment plans that satisfy all the demands of HMOs, managed care companies, third-party payers, and state and federal review agencies. Focusing on psychological problems that require treatment in inpatient, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient settings, this planner provides treatment planning components for 35 serious adult and adolescent behavioral disorders. Following the user-friendly format found in the bestselling The Complete Psychotherapy Treatment Planner, it helps to prevent treatment plan rejection by insurers and HMOs, and brings heightened focus to the treatment process.

Provides behavioral definitions, long- and short-term goals and objectives, therapeutic interventions, and DSM-IV diagnoses for serious mental disorders in adults and adolescents Organized by 35 major presenting problems and containing more than 1,000 polished treatment plan components Designed for quick reference--treatment plan components can be created from behavioral problem or DSM-IV diagnosis Features a workbook format that offers plenty of space to record customized goals, objectives, and interventions Provides a thorough introduction to treatment planning, plus a sample plan that can be emulated in writing plans that meet all requirements of third-party payers and accrediting agencies, including the JCAHO.

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM JOHN WILEY & SONS . . .

The Continuum of Care Treatment Planner (book/disk set) 192 pp. Paper (0-471-19569-3). The Chemical Dependence Treatment Planner (book/disk set) 256 pp. Paper (0-471-23794-9). The Complete Psychotherapy Treatment Planner (adult disorders) 176 pp. Paper(0-471-11738-2). The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Treatment Planner 240 pp. Paper (0-471-15647-7). TheraScribe(r) 3.0 for Windows(r): The Computerized Assistant Single User (0-471-18415-2) to Psychotherapy Treatment Planning.

After the age of 40, we may notice occasional lapses - a forgotten phone number, a friend's name, or a word that was right on the tip of our tongue. By 60, we may find ourselves wondering who called this morning, why we came into the kitchen, where we parked the car. In an aging nation, where one citizen in seven will be 65 when the next century arrives, these little difficulties raise a larger question: what precisely happens to our thinking as we grow older? What is normal, what is not, and how are we to know the signs? Douglas Powell offers a comprehensive account of cognitive aging of how our mental functions change as we mature. Defining patterns of normal decline, as well as severe forms of cognitive impairment, this book will help us understand and address the needs of an aging population. Powell integrates the latest literature on aging with the findings of his recent study of 1,000 physicians and 600 other subjects ranging in age from 25 to 92. His work reveals patterns of cognitive aging throughout the life cycle, particularly the way in which variability among individuals outpaces the decline of overall ability. Tackling an issue of growing interest in the field of gerontology, he notes the effect of certain factors such as gender, diet, health, and physical and mental exercise on changes in cognitive functioning over time. Along with the criteria for mild cognitive impairment and normal cognitive aging, this book addresses the question of optimal cognitive aging, identifying its characteristics and searching out their implications for the maintenance of intellectual abilities in the post-retirement years.

"The Neuropsychology of Aging" is a comprehensive yet concise introduction to what is currently known about the impact of aging on brain function. This book reviews both the current state-of-the art knowledge on cognition and aging and its neurobiological substrates, and methods for assessment and prospects for treatment.

The book begins with an overview of the topic, and reviews neuropsychological, neurobiological, and neuroanatomical assessment of the elderly. The author goes on to discuss aging in the nervous system, including neuropathological brain aging in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The final section provides neuropsychological perspectives on cognition functions such as attention, learning and memory, and language and communication. The book concludes with a discussion of interventions into neuropsychological processes, and future directions in the field.

Chronic pain is a daily fact of life for many elderly people. The pain is often seen as a product of age, and is only too readily accepted as inevitable by patient and physician. This collection of original essays offers a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to address the complex symptoms and treatment of chronic pain in the elderly. The nineteen contributors come from many disciplines, including psychology, medicine, social work, physical therapy, and nursing. Their primary objective is to improve the quality of pain management for seniors, but they also urge readers to examine their own attitudes and beliefs about elderly patients, to avoid the pitfalls of ageism and to refrain from using age to rationalize inaction. The volume is loosely divided into three overlapping sections. The first addresses social, psychological and epidemiological issues. The second section deals with family issues, including their role in pain management. The final section addresses psychological and medical interventions.

Current issues in the public health arena have challenged the system to broaden its traditional focus on infectious disease to include chronic disease as well. As this change in emphasis takes place, professionals must be prepared to address the special chronic health concerns of older people living in the community. This textbook meets the training needs of those professionals. Public Health and Aging examines the role of public health in the planning, coordination, and delivery of health promotion and disease prevention services to older people living outside of institutional settings. Here, experts in the areas of health care policy and care of aged persons analyze the scientific basis for the practice of public health in an increasingly aging society. Reviewing a wide range of the social, cultural, financial, and environmental factors that influence the health experiences of older population groups, the authors delve into the epidemiology of age-related chronic illnesses, program development, methodological issues, data collection and analysis, strategies for intervention, and ethics. From outlines for community-based program planning and development to discussions about the future challenges for health care systems and services, this book is an ideal reference for gerontology, public policy, and public health professionals and professionals in training. "Pulling together experts with diverse backgrounds in public health and aging, Public Health and Aging is the first book in nearly ten years to take such a comprehensive public health approach to the evaluation of care for the aging members of our society. The book is a 'who's who' in the field and promises to be a classic textbook in the areas of aging and public health."--Marcia Ory, Ph.D., Chief of the Social Science Research on Aging program at the National Institute on Aging

In Disciplining Old Age Stephen Katz gives us a sophisticated and theoretically rigorous approach to what gerentology does. He deftly and subtly combines the theories of Foucault, Bourdieu, and the Althusser in his analysis of what he calls the "gerontological web."

Katz explores how political and social sciences have differentiated the elderly as a special kind of population characterized in negative terms, and he examines the literature of the discipline and shows how gerontology as built itself as a discipline through its journals, associations, funding agencies, and "schools of thought."

A Volume in the Jossey-Bass Library of Current Clinical Technique

Few mental health professionals are adequately trained to meet the unique needs of the 65-plus age-group. Written by experts--and in some cases pioneers--in the field, Treating the Elderly is filled with the most up-to-date information needed for developing the skills necessary to work with the special needs and sensibilities of this population.

Filled with proven clinical techniques and strategies for helping clients deal with the most common emotional problems and issues of aging such as

• onset depression and anxiety
• the effect of physical decline and illness
• changing sexuality
• intermediate and long-term care
• problems of competence and cognitive decline
• insomnia

Cellular AGING AND CELL DEATH

Edited by Nikki J. Holbrook, George R. Martin, and Richard A. Lockshin

Cellular Aging and Cell Death provides a thorough understanding of the mechanisms responsible for cellular aging, covering the recent research on programmed cell death and senescence, and describing their role in the control of cell proliferation and the aging process. This one-of-a-kind book is the first to combine the two hottest research areas of cell biology into one comprehensive text.

Leading experts contribute to give readers an authoritative overview of the distinct fields of cellular aging and programmed cell death, as well as to demonstrate how both fields are critical to understanding the aging process. They address the large and growing interest in apoptosis, especially with regard to the molecular signals that induce and regulate programmed cell death, and the role of apoptosis in a variety of age-associated diseases and disabilities. Throughout the book, a strong emphasis is placed on the interrelationship of the molecular, cellular, and physiological aspects of senescence.

Individual chapters discuss such topics as the role and regulation of apoptosis in development, the potential impact of cell death on such postmitotic tissues as nerve and muscle, and suggest that programmed cell death plays an important role in both pathological and nonpathological aspects of aging, including neurodegenerative diseases.

One important chapter focuses on the most recent research involving the study of telomeres, whose reduction in length with age and cell division may underlie cellular senescence. The subject of neuronal cell death is also put into the perspective of aging.

Cellular Aging and Cell Death bridges the rapidly growing fields of cellular aging and programmed cell death. This thorough, yet concise book will be of particular interest to graduate students and researchers within the fields of cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, immunology, and physiology. Physicians and medical students involved in the fields of gerontology and pathology will also find this an informative reference.

Given medical advances and greater understanding of healthful living habits, people are living longer lives. Proportionally speaking, a greater percentage of the population is elderly. Despite medical advances, there is still no cure for dementia, and as elderly individuals succumb to Alzheimer's Disease or related dementia, more and more people are having to care their elderly parents and /or siblings. Profiles in Caregiving is practical source of information for anyone who teaches caregiving, acts as a caregiver, or studies caregiving.
This book discusses recent research on stress factors associated with caregiving, and what factors impact on successful versus non-successful adaptation to the care-giving role. This is an expanding field in gerontology, and is also of interest to personality and social psychologists studying stress and interpersonal relations. Although there are many books on the cause and treatment of dementia, there has been a book that provides a research investigation into the factors associated with effective caregiving to dementia patients.
Key Features
* Conceptualizes caregiving as a multistage career whose impact on the caregiver continues to be felt after in-home care has ceased
* Based upon a longitudinal survey of a demographically diverse sample of principal caregivers over a three-year period
* Identifies caregivers who are most at-risk for adverse adaptation to the role
* Describes preventative and clinical intervention strategies
* Identifies post-care risk and issues
* Identifies antecedents to successful adaptation
* State of the art analytic techniques
* Graphic presentation of empirical findings
* Renowned multidisciplinary research team

This practical resource, a companion volume to "Teaching Gerontology: The Curriculum Imperative," gives educators useful tools for teaching the subject. The book includes innovative classroom and clinical activ ities, guides for independent student field assignments, proven strate gies for effective use of print and video resources, and learning acti vities which develop students' ethical reasoning and sensitivity. An a nnotated list of articles, textbooks, videos, and films for teaching g erontologic nursing concepts is included.

This unique book looks at the biology of aging from a fundamentally new perspective, one based on evolutionary theory rather than traditional concepts which emphasize molecular and cellular processes. The basis for this approach lies in the fact that natural selection, as a powerful determining force, tends to decline in importance with age. Many of the characteristics we associate with aging, the author argues, are more the result of this decline than any mechanical imperative contained within organic structures. This theory in turn yields the most fruitful avenues for seeking answers to the problem of aging, and should be recognized as the intellectual core of gerontology and the foundation for future research. The author ably surveys the vast literature on aging, presenting mathematical, experimental, and comparative findings to illustrate and support the central thesis. The result is the first complete synthesis of this vital field. Evolutionary biologists, gerontologists, and all those concerned with the science of aging will find it a stimulating, strongly argued account.

The realities and misconceptions of long-term care and the challenges it presents for the ethics of autonomy are analyzed in this perceptive work. While defending the concept of autonomy, the author argues that the standard view of autonomy as non-interference and independence has only a limited applicability for long-term care. He explains that autonomy should be understood as a comprehensiveness that defines the overall course of a person's life rather than as a way of responding to an isolated situation. Agich distinguishes actual and ideal autonomy and argues that actual autonomy is better revealed in the everyday experiences of long-term care than in dramatic, conflict-ridden paradigm situations such as decisions to institutionalize, to initiate aggressive treatments, or to withhold or to withdraw life-sustaining treatments. Through a phenomenological analysis of long-term care, he develops an ethical framework for it by showing how autonomy is actually manifest in certain structural features of the social world of long-term care. Throughout this timely work, the rich sociological and anthropological literature on aging and long-term care is referenced and the practical ethical questions of promoting and enhancing the exercise of autonomy are addressed.

A collection of 75 practical activities and programs for therapists working with older adults. In addition to the instructions and helpful hints for each activity, the authors have also included the therapeutic benefits of each activity (e.g., concentration, increasing endurance, olfactory stimulation, etc.). Plan your activity calendar using this collection of well-balanced activities! Chapters: How to Train and Motivate Volunteer Activity Leaders, Large Muscle Activities, Mental/Memory Activities, Arts and Crafts, Music, Dance and Drama, Outdoor/Nature Activities, and Religious Activities.

A history of aging in America surveys and compares actualities and attitudes in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries and suggests practical improvements on the current inadequate system of pensions, social security, medicare, and other programs.

Aging: From Fundamental Biology to Societal Impact examines the interconnection of the cellular and molecular basis of aging and societal-based challenges and innovative interventions. Sections take a societal-based angle on aging, describing several flagship initiatives for healthy living and active aging in different regions, cover the biology of aging which includes the hallmarks of aging, explain the pathophysiology of aging, describing different comorbidities associated with aging and possible interventions to decrease the impact of aging, and envision future and innovative measures to tackle aging-related morbidities. Contributions from an interdisciplinary panel of experts cover such topics as the biology of aging to physical activity, nutrition, psychology, pharmacology, health care, social care and urban planning.

Dieser Band bietet einen informativen UEberblick uber die Symptomatik bei demenziell bedingten Sprachstoerungen, eine praxisorientierte Anleitung zur Durchfuhrung sprachlicher Foerdermassnahmen und linguistisch fundierte UEbungen, die in der klinischen und ambulanten Praxis entwickelt wurden. Mit Foerderubungen zur sprachlichen Aktivierung von Betroffenen, zum sprachlichen Erfassen von Gegenstanden und Sachverhalten und zur Versprachlichung praktischer Alltagshandlungen werden die zentralen Bereiche beginnender demenzieller Sprachstoerungen erfasst. Die Materialien aus vielen Bereichen von Sprache und Grammatik eignen sich gleichermassen fur sprachtherapeutisches Fachpersonal und engagierte Laienhelfer, die als Demenzberater oder -begleiter tatig sind. Formulare zur Verlaufsbeobachtung und -bewertung erganzen das UEbungsmaterial.