The population of older Americans, those 65 years and older, is rapidly increasing and is posing an epigrammatic predicament in the field of public health. At the same time, many older adults perceive spirituality as an important resource in their lives and spiritual practices as crucial to their health and well-being. There is limited knowledge regarding the definition of spirituality from a patient's participant and even less acknowledgment regarding the use of spirituality in managing chronic conditions. The focus of this book was to define, explore, and describe spirituality in the life of chronically ill elders and to examine its relationship to self-management of chronic illness in terms of gender and race. The analysis should help answer the questions: What is "spirituality"? Is it linked to religion? Can spirituality be considered a health behavior? Is spirituality a form of self-management? How do older adults living with chronic illness incorporate their spiritual practices in their lives? This book is addressed to professionals in gerontology, nursing, public health education, and public health researchers.

Anemia in the elderly has been properly defined as the silent epidemic, representing 3 million people in the United States aged 65 years and older. Incidence and prevalence of this condition increase with age. It differs in its etiology, pathogenesis and treatment from anemia in children and younger adults. Anemia is associated with reduced survival, increased risk of functional dependence and hospitalization, increased risk of congestive heart failure and stage renal disease and cognitive disorders. Approximately 70% of anemia in older individuals is reversible.

Focusing on the most prevalent conditions affecting seniors - including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia - Morewitz and Goldstein analyze the impact of chronic disease on aging. Separate chapters are devoted to cognitive changes, psychological problems, and trends in health care utilization, and all chapters are amplified by current research findings.

As the population of retirees between the ages of 65 and 75 continues to grow, professionals, researchers, and educators in all areas of the health care and the business sectors will require more expertise on the latest trends to make better decisions and improve systems.

Contributed by nationally recognized experts, "The Crown of Life: Dynamics of the Early Post-Retirement Period" presents some of the most important and current decision-making research describing life between the ages of 65 and 75. Topics cover many aspects and social issues of retirement including: Demographics Functioning and Well-being Aging Black Americans Late Middle Age The Impact of Work Change and Stability Health and Religiousness Social Relations Leisure Activities Male Satisfaction Everyday Life Gay Lives Retirement Community Life

For anyone interested in the key issues and current trends of this growing population, editors Jacquelyn Boone James and Paul Wink provide one of the most important and current expert collections dedicated to the Crown of Life period.

About the Series...
Now celebrating its 26th year, this series of annual reviews, established by Carl Eisdorfer, is designed to encompass the broad spectrum of concerns in aging, including psychology, biology, medicine, sociology, and public policy. The goal is to present reviews of the highest quality and to address those important questions that are salient to all gerontologists.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This book distills the wealth of knowledge contained in the classic text, Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach, 4/e into a practical guide for primary care, family medicine, and internal medicine residents. Written by top experts in the field, the book offers a detailed, compact overview of geriatric care. It addresses geriatric pharmacology, Medicare and Medicaid, and numerous other subjects unique to older adults. The case-based instructional approach helps readers navigate the complexity of prevention, presentation, and treatment for conditions such as depression, dementia, and hypertension. Graphs and tables aid the reader in determining the proper courses of treatment.

The decline of infections, starvation, heart attack, and stroke has allowed people to reach extreme old age--and ushered in disability, dementia, and degenerative disease, with profound consequences for the self and society. In chapters echoing Dante's nine circles of hell, Dr. Guy Brown explores these vital issues at various levels, from the cell, to the whole body, to society and how all this new medical technology affects the meaning of death. He tracks the seismic shifts in the causes and character of death that are rocking medicine and reveals how technological innovations, such as cloning and electronic interfaces, hint at new modes of "survival" after death.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disorder in the ageing population, with dementia as a common consequence. AD is defined pathologically by the appearance of extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, as described by Alois Alzheimer about a century ago. The causes for AD include genetic predisposition in a small population, ageing and environmental stresses in majority cases. The underlying pathogenic cascades, increases in expression of amyloid precursor protein and accumulation of Ass and reactive oxidant activity and inflammation, have the features of both adaptive, at least initially, and harmful when becoming excessive. Dementia, on the other hand, is a clinical diagnosis and is defined as globally, persistently impaired cognitive skills including memory. Alzheimer dementia refers to clinical dementia in patients who also have Alzheimer neuropathology. Alzheimer dementia is what brings the patients to seek medical treatments. An extraordinary inability to form new memory, especially of those episodic type, and executive dysfunction are among the earliest symptoms in AD patients. In end-stage AD, cognitive degeneration extends far beyond memory loss. The underlying causes include decreases in impaired brain metabolism, which results in impaired synaptic functions and capacities, thus impaired information processing, and eventually leads to neuronal injury and death. This book presents leading-edge research in this dynamic field.

Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer's Disease (AD), which involves the parts of the brain that control memory, thought and language. Age is the most important known risk factor for AD. The number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. AD is a slow disease, starting with mild memory loss and ending with severe brain damage. The course the disease takes and how fast changes occur vary from person to person. On average, AD patients live from 8 to 10 years after they are diagnosed, though the disease can last for as many as 20 years. Current research is aimed at understanding why AD occurs and who is at greatest risk for developing it, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and ability to identify who is at risk, developing, discovering and testing new treatments for behavioural problems in patients with AD. This book gathers state-of-the-art research from leading scientists throughout the world which offers important information on understanding the underlying causes and discovering the most effective treatments for Alzheimer's Disease.

Geriatric Neurology, Volume 167, serves as an update on the basic biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying the aging process, with an emphasis on neurological aging and state-of-the-art reviews on our understanding of vascular, cognitive, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases in the elderly. Developed with an eye to providing both the basic underpinnings of age-related changes and the clinical information necessary to aid in diagnostics and treatment, the book serves as a useful volume for students, basic and translational scientists, and practicing clinicians on how to understand and treat common neurological disorders in the elderly.

Hans-Werner Wahl, Hermann Brenner, Heidrun Mollenkopf, Dietrich Rothenbacher and Christoph Rott Ageing research has been identi?ed as a prototypical ?eld of inquiry deserving the full exploitation of single discipline approaches and interdisciplinary synergies amongst these single perspectives. Although this is a generally accepted insight, there still is a strong need to provide models of how this global and most fundamental challenge can be dealt with. It seems in any case necessary to narrow down the wide scope of ageing research issues to sets of key constructs most promising in terms of interdisciplinary cross-fertilisation. Againstthis,themajoraimofthebookistoprovideacomprehensive treatment of one well-selected set of key issues of recent ageing research, i. e. health, competence and well-being. In addition, the book's ambition is to identify priorities for future ageing research and to further new avenues for interdisciplinary approaches and social policy applications. The substance of the book is based on an international conference which took place on June 18 and 19, 2004 in Heidelberg, Germany. Framed within the array of health, competence and well-being perspectives in ageing research, the idea of the conf- ence was to provide an integrated presentation of ?ndings generated in the German Centre for Research on Ageing at the University of Heidelberg (Deutsches Zentrum f. ur Alternsforschung, DZFA). The centre's three departments, i. e.

Biological Basis of Geriatric Oncology highlights research issues that are specific to geriatric oncology in the field of carcinogenesis and cancer prevention and treatment, based on the biologic interactions of cancer and age. It illustrates the benefit of the principles of geriatrics in the management of cancer in the older individual.

This volume provides a frame of reference for practicioners of any specialties involved in the management of older patients and for oncologists involved in the management of cancer of older individuals. It is a source for basic and clinical scientists exploring the interactions and emerging information of cancer and aging.

Aging Issues in Cardiology provides an overview of the practical clinical areas involved in managing cardiovascular disease in the elderly. This volume will be useful to any physician managing the cardiovascular health of elderly individuals.
Topics covered include:

-Delirium in Elderly Cardiac Patients,
-Depression,
- Pharmacologic Issues,
- Primary Prevention,
- Syncope,
- Heart Failure,
- Coronary Revascularization.

During the last 40 years, the study of the biological basis of aging has progressed tremendously, and it has now become an independent and respectable field of study and research. The essential cause of aging is molecular damage that slowly overwhelms cellular and organismic defense, repair and maintenance systems. In recent years, a wealth of highly sophisticated research has transformed this idea from a credible hypothesis not only to a major theory, but essentially to accepted knowledge. Aging at the Molecular Level examines the key elements in this transformation.
Bringing together contributions from an international team of authors, this volume will be of interest to graduates and postgraduates in the fields of medicine and nursing, researchers of different aspects of biogerontology and those in the pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical and health-care industry.

Aging is associated with morphologic and functional alterations of organ systems including the genitourinary tract. Aging of the bladder leads to urgency, frequency, dysuria, recurrent urinary tract infections and incontinence both in the aging men and women. These symptoms occur frequently, are very distressing and influence daily life of the aging person. Besides patients symptoms, medications and incontinence devices are a tremendous financial burden on health care systems. Understanding the morphologic and functional processes of the aging bladder may decrease symptoms, costs and develop new, preventive strategies for the treatment of the aging bladder. This book reviews present knowledge of morphologic and functional alterations of the aging bladder both in men and women adding new insights in order to optimize therapeutic options for the treatment of aging bladder in daily practice and improve patients quality of life.

The preparation of Aging, Immunity, and Infection has been a "labor of labor. " When we began, there existed a huge literature-but manage able, we thought, given our years of experience in the area often referred to as immunogerontology. However, in the time that we have been at work, the new relevant literature has increased at a prodigious rate. The more we read and tried to assimilate, the farther we fell behind. In order to have any hope of completing a book on this rapidly evolving topic, we have been forced to become increasingly selective in covering new and re cent publications. We dare to hope that many read ers will find the book useful and only a few will dweIl on the inevitable inadequacies. We consider the book a work in progress, and welcome suggestions for future editions. Five chapters cover several aspects of infection and the decline of immunity with age. The first chapter "Human Aging: Present and Future," is devoted to demographics and theories of senescence. Chap ter 2 outlines the gradual breakdown of resistance to infection in the aged individual. Chapters 3 and 4 cover changes in innate and acquired immunity. The final chapter, "Nutrition, Longevity, and Integrity of the Immune System," discusses such provocative ideas as life-span exten sion and nutritional intervention for the delay of immunosenescence."

As the essays in this volume show, conceptualizing dementia has always been a complex process. With contributions from noted professionals in psychiatry, neurology, molecular biology, sociology, history, ethics, and health policy, "Concepts of Alzheimer Disease" looks at the ways in which Alzheimer disease has been defined in various historical and cultural contexts.

The book covers every major development in the field, from the first case described by Alois Alzheimer in 1907 through groundbreaking work on the genetics of the disease. Essays examine not only the prominent role that biomedical and clinical researchers have played in defining Alzheimer disease, but also the ways in which the perspectives of patients, their caregivers, and the broader public have shaped concepts.

This book on complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for the Elderly provides a critical and objective evaluation of alternative medical therapy for the elderly. The focus on practical aspects such as adverse effects and general risks of various therapeutic methods makes it a valuable reference book for the general practitioner, for geriatricians and professionals within the area of alternative medicine, but also for interested laypeople. In the three sections, Epidemiology, Types of CAM, and Common Medical Problems and CAM, a broad range of issues are covered. They range from drug compliance in elderly people to CAM in the treatment of specific conditions such as pulmonary diseases, arthritis or cancer. The above features and in particular the unbiased approach to discuss the pros and cons of CAM make this publication a must-have for everybody searching for detailed information on alternative medicine for the elderly.

Given the impact that good nutrition and keeping fit have on health and well-being in later life, WHO, in collaboration with the Tufts University USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, organized a consultation to review the scientific evidence linking diet and other factors - especially exercise - affecting nutritional status, disease prevention and health promotion for older persons. The consultation focused primarily on practical issues, including the establishment of explicit recommendations to improve the health and nutritional status of older persons in a wide variety of socioeconomic and cultural settings. During the production of a comprehensive report, representing the outcome both of the preparatory work and of the consultation itself, it was recognized that new information emerging in several key areas should also be included. The combined results presented here are intended as an authoritative source of information for nutritionists, general practitioners, gerontologists, medical faculties, nurses, care providers, schools of public health and social workers.The specific recommendations concerning nutrient intakes, food-based dietary guidelines, and exercise and physical activity should also interest a larger audience, including the general reader. The main body discusses the epidemiological and social aspects of ageing, health and functional changes experienced with ageing, the impact of physical activity, assessment of the nutritional status of older persons, and nutritional guidelines for healthy ageing. Additional material covers food-based dietary guidelines for older adults - with particular emphasis on healthy ageing and prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases - and guidelines for promoting physical activity among older persons. "...This report is significant, representing an authoritative consensus related to the epidemiological and social aspects of ageing, health and functional changes experienced with age, and the impact of physical activity. This valuable source of information is relevant to a wide range of health professionals; the clear and specific recommendations concerning food/nutrient consumption and physical activity for older adults should also interest a larger audience."- The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health "...The book is a timely publication, which provides an exhaustive review of studies...This publication will certainly serve as a reference manual for all those involved in nutrition, gerontology and geriatrics. " - Indian Journal of Medical Research

Ageing is of perennial interest as a universal feature in all human societies. The genetic background and biochemical bases of ageing processes are currently being revealed in unprecedented detail. It is emerging that one of the main hurdles to be overcome in achieving a long and healthy lifespan is the maintenance of a properly functioning immune system. The main cause of death in people who have achieved "successful ageing" (which mostly means not having succumbed to cancer or cardiovascular disease) is infectious disease, caused by immunosenescence. This book contains chapters by many of the leaders in the field of immune-related issues in ageing and remediation.

This volume of "Advances in Cell Aging and Gerontology" provides a timely review on the molecular and cellular basis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Age itself is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which include loss of vasomotor function, athero- and arterio-sclerosis, hypertension, congestive heart failure and stroke. Together these pathologies comprise the leading causes of permanent disability, hospitalization and death for individuals over the age of 65. Thus, there is a critical need to assess both the age-associated causes leading to CVD as well as the current state of knowledge on preventive regimens designed to slow or modulate disease progression.

This book concisely summarizes the current knowledge related to the major aspects contributing to cardiovascular disfunction in the elderly as well as potential ways of maintaining or improving human cardiovascular healthspan.

Keine Krankheit und keine Behandlung ist ohne Risiko

Praktisches Risiko- und Fehlermanagement in der Medizin

. Vorsorgende Fehlervermeidung durch fruhzeitige Identifikation und Bewertung typischer Risiken

. Nachsorgendes Erkennung von Fehlern, Ursachen, Zusammenhangen, um Wiederholungen zu vermeiden

Strukturierte Optimierung und Berucksichtigung von

. Workflows, SOPs

. Teamarbeit, Entscheidungsfindung, Kommunikation, Fuhrung, Lernkultur

. Menschlichen Faktoren: Stress, Mudigkeit, personliche Handlungsstrategien

Mit allen relevanten Systemen fur Risiko- und Fehlermanagement

. CIRS (Critical Incident Reporting System)

. OTAS (Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery)

. CRM (Crew Ressource Management)

. FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)

. TTO (Team Time Out)

Risikomanagement ist wirksam medizinisch und wirtschaftlich

. Bessere Behandlungsqualitat

. Zufriedenere Patienten und Mitarbeiter

. Vermeidung rechtlicher und finanzieller Folgen

Entsprechend der gesetzlichen Vorgaben des neuen Patientenrechtegesetzes (PRG)."

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.

Today, approximately 1.6 million American children live in what social scientists call "grandfamilies"-households in which children are being raised by their grandparents. In You've Always Been There for Me, Rachel Dunifon uses data gathered from grandfamilies in New York to analyze their unique strengths and distinct needs. Though grandfamilies can benefit from the accumulated wisdom of mature adults raising children for a second time, Dunifon notes, such families also face high rates of health problems as well as parenting challenges related to a large generation gap. Grandfamilies are also largely hidden in American society, flying under the radar of social service agencies, policymakers, and family researchers. This book gives family researchers a greater understanding of a unique family form, and also offers service providers, policymakers and the general public important information about the lives of an important group of American families.

A distinguished panel of internationally recognized neuroscientists comprehensively review the involvement of and changes in glial cells both during the normal aging process and in the major disorders of old age. Topics range from the cellular and molecular changes that occur with aging-especially aging-associated activation of astrocytes and microglia and its relation to neuronal injury and repair-to neuron-glia intercommunication. The contributors show how glial signals may be modulated by hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, intracellular metabolism, and intercellular exchanges, as well as by aging of the blood-brain barrier.