With the appearance of a textbook as comprehensive as this one, it is clear that the field of geriatrics is coming of age. The broad scope of these volumes shapes a substantial answer to the question, "What is geriatrics and why should we be interested in it?" As I see it, there are at least five reasons. First, the scientific or intellectual reason: gerontology is the study of aging from the biologic, psychological, and social perspectives. There is increasing interest in the fascinating insights into the biologic mechanisms of aging, errors in protein synthesis, DNA repair mechanisms, alterations of the neuroendocrine system, changes in the immune system, genetic controls, and somatic mutations. Second, the demographic reason: this is the century of old age. There has been a 26-year gain in the average life expectancy. This gain compares with that acquired from 3,000 years B.C. (the Bronze Age) to the year 1900, which was about 29 years. Therefore, in one century, there has been a gain in the average life expectancy almost equal to 5,000 previous years of human history. In 1830, one of three newborn infants survived beyond 60 years of age.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-1-4612-5232-0 (9781461252320)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4612-5232-0
Schweitzer Klassifikation
of Volume II.- I Perspectives on Aging.- 1 Demographic Perspectives.- 2 Social Perspectives.- 3 A Philosophical Perspective.- II Caring for the Geriatric Patient.- 4 Epidemiology of Illness.- 5 Development of Geriatrics in the United States.- 6 Patterns of Disease: The Challenge of Multiple Illness.- 7 Guidelines for Selected Geriatric Problems.- 8 Clinical Evaluation of the Patient.- 9 Psychological Aspects of Patient Evaluation.- 10 Instruments to Assess Functional Status.- 11 Ethical Dimensions of the Physician-Patient Relationship.- 12 Nutrition.- 13 Exercise.- 14 Sexuality.- 15 Sleep and Sleep Disorders.- 16 Elderly Abuse.- 17 Alcohol and Drug Abuse.- 18 Chronic Pain.- 19 Surgical Concerns.- 20 Rehabilitation Medicine.- 21 Spiritual Care of the Hospitalized Elderly Patient.- 22 Deciding About Life-Sustaining Therapy.- 23 Care Near the End of Life.- III Legal Issues in Geriatric Medicine.- 24 Protective Services and the Medical Profession.- 25 Medical Treatment and Physician's Legal Duties.- IV Health Care Systems and Geriatric Medicine.- 26 Social Justice in Chronic Illness and Long-Term Care.- 27 Long-Term Care: Policy and Reimbursement.- 28 Physicians and the Care of Nursing Home Residents.- 29 Access to Health Care.- 30 Interdisciplinary Teams.- 31 Physical Environments.- V Research Issues in Geriatrics.- 32 Research in Geriatrics: Needs and Priorities.- 33 Action Research: Its Value in Gerontology and Geriatrics.- Epilogue: A Political Perspective on Geriatrics Congressman Ron Wyden.- Appendix: Resources for the Health Care of Elderly Persons Diana White, M.S..
