Geriatric medicine Books

Book SynopsisMost patients in developed nations with medical problems requiring hospital care are elderly. Increasingly the dividing line between general internal medi­ cine and acute geriatric medicine is becoming more blurred. It is, nevertheless, apparent that some elderly patients on medical or sub-specialty hospital wards become 'bed blockers'. Why? Also, why are 'bed blockers' less of a problem on an acute geriatric ward? Many clinicians believe this is related to a faster access to the long-stay beds of the geriatric unit. Even a brief study of hospital operating statistics will show this is not and cannot be the case. When geria­ tricians are asked to see elderly 'bed blockers' on colleagues' wards they approach with anxiety because these patients often have to be placed on a long waiting list for these scarce and very expensive continuing care beds. Do geria­ tricians see different acute medical problems compared with their colleagues? The answer is not immediately obvious, though geriatricians are likely to receive more potential 'bed blockers' than their general medical colleagues. How is it then, that geriatricians seem to cope better than their colleagues? All geriatricians have experience of general internal medicine but the opposite unfortunately does not hold. This book is written in the hope of redressing the imbalance.Table of Contents1 Bronchopneumonia and respiratory failure.- 2 Drugs in cardiac failure.- 3 Acute stroke illness in the elderly.- 4 Preventing electrolyte problems in acute illness.- 5 Hypothermia.- 6 Acute thyroid disorders.- 7 Acute confusion.

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Table of Contents1 Introduction: the development of geriatric care in advanced societies.- 2 Great Britain.- 3 The Netherlands.- 4 The United States of America.- 5 Sweden.- 6 The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics.- 7 Australia.- 8 Conclusion.

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Table of Contents1 Ageing.- 2 Special features of disease in old age.- 3 Mental disorders.- 4 The central nervous system and special senses.- 5 Autonomic nervous system.- 6 Cardiovascular system.- 7 Respiratory system.- 8 Alimentary system.- 9 Nutrition.- 10 Urogenital system.- 11 Endocrine disorders.- 12 Blood disorders.- 13 Skin diseases.- 14 Musculoskeletal system.- 15 Rehabilitation with special reference to stroke.- 16 Principles of drug therapy.- 17 Care of the dying patient.

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Book SynopsisThe fact that there are special problems in the care of the elderly in the community is ample justification for writing a separate volume on the subject. The knowledge that there are increasing numbers of older people in virtually every country in the world makes it all the more important that the family physician should have sympathy with and understanding of the problems of them, since they are lilcely to make up a significant part of his worlcload and, increasingly, will take up more of his time and energy. There is a progressive amount of disability with advancing years, and this is particularly true of those aged 75 years and over. Increasing age is associated with serious impairment of hearing and vision, senses which younger people take for granted. Old age sees the arrival of major diseases of middle age with much greater frequency, such as ischaemic heart and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis. There are other disorders that are virtually confined to the elderly, such as fractures of the femoral neck, Paget's disease and myeloma. We now know that the disintegration of the con­ ducting tissue of the heart is largely an age-related phenomenon. Ageing processes affect every major organ system in the body and the impairment of physiological perfor­ mance resulting from these affects the elderly individual's response to infections, disease and environmental changes in complex ways that are not seen in younger people.Table of Contents1 Demographic and social factors.- 2 Disorders of the cardiovascular system (I) Myocardial and valvular disease; blood pressure.- 3 Disorders of the cardiovascular system (II) Disorders of cardiac rhythm and conduction; pacemakers.- 4 Disorders of the cardiovascular system (III) Diseases of the arteries.- 5 Strokes.- 6 Fits, faints and falls.- 7 Failing mobility (‘gone off his feet syndrome’).- 8 Incontinence.- 9 Memory, confusion and sleep.- 10 The use and misuse of drug treatment.- 11 Bone disease and fractures.- 12 Disorders of the blood.- 13 Endocrine diseases.

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Book SynopsisDDDDDDDDDDDD Effective management logically follows accurate diagnosis. Such logic often is difficult to apply in practice. Absolute diagnostic accuracy may not be possible, particularly in the field of primary care, when management has to be on analyis of symptoms and on knowledge of the individual patient and family. This series follows that on Problems in Practice which was concerned more with diagnosis in the widest sense and this series deals more defini­ tively with general care and specific treatment of symptoms and diseases. Good management must include knowledge of the nature, course and outcome of the conditions, as well as prominent clinical features and as­ sessment and investigations, but the emphasis is on what to do best for the patient. Family medical practitioners have particular difficulties and advantages in their work. Because they often work in professional islation in the com­ munity and deal with relatively small numbers of near-normal patients their experience with the more serious and more rare conditions is restricted. They find it difficult to remain up-to-date with medical advances and even more difficult to decide on the suitability and application of new and rela­ tively untried methods compared with those that are 'old' and well proven. Their advantages are that because of long-term continuous care for their patients they have come to know them and their families well and are able to become familiar with the more common and less serious diseases of their communities.Trade Review`...this book should be considered as a "must" for all doctors interested in better understanding and care of the elderly. It is worthy of being included in any practice library and any potential Diploma of Geriatric Medicine candidate would be well advised to read it.' Journal of the Royal College of General PractitionersTable of ContentsSection 1 The Nature of the Problem.- Epidemiology.- Special factors in the management of disease in the elderly.- Ageing changes.- The causes and prevention of disability and disease.- Attitudes to management.- Principles of prescribing.- The nature of some common diseases.- Organization of care for the elderly.- Section 2 Symptoms and their Differential Diagnosis.- Palpitations.- Breathlessness.- Cough.- Swollen legs.- ‘Going off his feet’ syndrome.- Fits, faints and falls.- Aches and pains.- Constipation and diarrhoea.- Failing eyesight and hearing.- Incontinence.- Confusion.- Misery, apathy and sleep problems.- Collapse.- Section 3 Specific Disease Complexes.- Abnormalities of blood pressure.- Ischaemic heart disease.- Cardiac dysrhythmias.- Heart failure.- Bone disease of ageing.- Diseases affecting muscles and joints.- Strokes.- Parkinsonism and tremor.- Incontinence.- The elderly disabled.- Pain relief.- Anaemia.- Thyroid disorders.- Diabetes mellitus.- Psychiatric disorders.

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Book SynopsisThis book is the first one to examine the cause and effect of elderly people’s healthy life expectancy, providing models that are easy to understand. The novel point is the success achieved in constructing a single structural model of cause and effect of healthy life expectancy. In the final models of the authors’ studies, it was possible to clearly point out that it is not the case that lifestyle habits including an ideal diet directly provide for healthy life expectancy.This book is made up of published studies based on scientific evidence, using a vast amount of data based on about 8,000 in-home elderly people tracked longitudinally from 3 to 6 years, three times in all including baseline research, in a specific region of Japan. Therefore, health policy makers will be able to use this book as scientific evidence for creating area programs to promote good health that are focused on healthy longevity as the central issue. Academic researchers whose special fields are mainly public health will be able to learn both theory and practice to structurally analyze cause and effect of health factors.Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. Population aging trend of the world.- 3. SES, physical health, and long-term care needs.- 4. SES, comorbidity, activity limitations, and healthy life expectancy.- 5. SES, mental health, and need for long-term care.- 6. SES, social interaction, and health status.- 7. SES, dietary and lifestyle habits, and three health-related dimensions.- 8. SES, dietary and lifestyle habits, three health-related dimensions, and healthy survival days.- 9. SES, dietary quality, emotional well-being, and a five-year subjective health in middle-age.- 10. Causal relationships among three health-related dimensions.- 11. SES, environmental condition, three health-related dimensions, and healthy life expectancy.- Afterword.- Index.

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Book SynopsisThis open access book takes a multidisciplinary approach to provide a holistic understanding of late old age, and situates the aged person within the context of family, caregivers, clinical and other institutions. All through the book, the author discusses preparedness for an aging individual as well as the society in the Indian context. The book highlights inevitable but mostly neglected health issues like depression, dementia, fall, and frailty and provides detailed analyses of solutions that are practicable in low resource settings. It also brings up intergenerational differences and harmony in the context of holistic care of older Indians. Alongside clinical perspectives, the book uses narratives of elderly patients to dwell on the myriad of problems and issues that constitute old age healthcare. Demonstrating cases that range from the most influential to the most underprivileged elderly in India, the book enlightens multiple caregivers—doctors, nurses, and professional caregivers as well as family members—about the dynamic approach required in dealing with complex issues related to late old age. The narratives make the book relatable and interesting to non-academic readers, with important lessons for gerontological and geriatric caregiving. It is also of use to older adults in preparing for active aging. Table of Contents1. Understanding Frailty: The Science and Beyond.- 2. Living with Failing Memory: From a Caregiver’s Perspective.- 3. Panorama of Cancer.- 4. Meaningful Engagement: An Option or Not.- 5. Constipation: Much more than a Symptom.- 6. Fall: A Geriatric Syndrome with Endless Agony.- 7. Stroke, Premorbid Status and Resilience.- 8. Discussion about Sexual Health: Is it Age Inappropriate?.- 9. Treat or Not to Treat.- 10. Successful Ageing: An Opportunity and Responsibility for All.

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