Encyclopedia of Health and Aging

This one-volume encyclopedia presents state-of-the-art research and ready-to-use facts on health and aging. The 250 entries and relevant appendices cover: biological; psychological; social; and economic aspects of health and aging and impacts within health-care systems.

As an ever increasing percentage of the population of western societies enters `old age', health issues grow in importance in terms of the well-being of this population, economic impact within the health-care system, impacts on families and family relationships and in so many other ways.

The Encyclopedia of Health and Aging covers issues including:

- acute illness;

- Alzheimer's disease;

- bereavement;

- cataracts;

- centenarians;

- dementia;

- economic;

- dependency;

- exercise;

- health care costs;

- health promotion;

- hospice care;

- long-term care;

- managed care;

- medications;

- menopause;

- nursing homes;

- nutrition;

- obesity;

- optimal aging;

- osteoporosis;

- Parkinson's disease;

- public policy;

- `quality of life';

- religiosity;

- sexual function;

- sleep disturbances;

- smoking;

- spousal care-giving;

- stroke;

- widowhood;

- wisdom.

Also included are landmark studies: Duke Longitudinal Study of Aging; Framingham Heart Study; MacArthur Study of Successful Aging; Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE); Health and Retirement Study (HRS); and National Long-Term Care Survey, as well as important social and health programmes including: social security, `meals on wheels' and Medicaid/Medicare.

The Encyclopedia of Health and Aging is cross-disciplinary, with contributions from the fields of: gerontology; epidemiology; health psychology; biology; sociology; health and medicine; and public policy.