Aging Medicine – serie

Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of Health Care Reform provides an introduction to the principles of palliative care; describes current models of delivering palliative care across care settings, and examines opportunities in the setting of healthcare policy reform for palliative care to improve outcomes for patients, families and healthcare institutions. The United States is currently facing a crisis in health care marked by unsustainable spending and quality that is poor relative to international benchmarks. Yet this is also a critical time of opportunity. Because of its focus on quality of care, the Affordable Care Act is poised to expand access to palliative care services for the sickest, most vulnerable, and therefore most costly, 5% of patients- a small group who nonetheless drive about 50% of all healthcare spending. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis or stage of illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Research has demonstrated palliative care’s positive impact on health care value. Patients (and family caregivers) receiving palliative care experience improved quality of life, better symptom management, lower rates of depression and anxiety, and improved survival. Because patient and family needs are met, crises are prevented, thereby directly reducing need for emergency department and hospital use and their associated costs. An epiphenomenon of better quality of care, the lower costs associated with palliative care have been observed in multiple studies. Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of Health Care Reform, a roadmap for effective policy and program design, brings together expertclinicians, researchers and policy leaders, who tackle key areas where real-world policy options to improve access to quality palliative care could have a substantial role in improving value.

Acute Care for Elders (ACE) is a model of care designed to improve functional outcomes and to improve the processes for the care of older patients. This model includes: an environment of care designed to promote improved function for older patients; an interdisciplinary team that works together to identify/address the vulnerabilities of the older patients; nursing care plans for prevention of disability; early planning to help prepare the patient to return home and a review of medical care to prevent iatrogenic illness.Acute Care for Elders: A Model for Interdisciplinary Care is an essential new resource aimed at assisting providers in developing and sustaining an ACE program. The interdisciplinary approach provides an introduction to the key vulnerabilities of older adults and defines the lessons learned from the Acute Care for Elders model. Expertly written chapters describe critical aspects of ACE: the interdisciplinary approach and the focus on function. The fundamental principles of ACE described in this book will further assist hospital leaders to develop, implement, sustain and disseminate the Acute Care for Elders model of care. Acute Care for Elders: A Model for Interdisciplinary Care is of great value to geriatricians, hospitalists, advance practice nurses, social workers and all others who provide high quality care to older patients.

Medical practitioners receive little, if any, formal training in the prevention, assessment and management of pressure ulcers and other chronic wounds.   Pressure Ulcers in the Aging Population: A Guide for Clinicians is a resource primarily aimed at physicians interested in the fundamentals of wound care.  This book is written for geriatricians, internists, general practitioners, residents and fellows who treat older patients and unlike other texts on the market addresses the specific issues of wound prevention and managment in older individuals.      Pressure Ulcers in the Aging Population: A Guide for Clinicians emphasizes prevention, proper documentation and the team care process which are often overlooked in standard texts.  Chapters are written by experts in their fields and  include such evolving topics as deep tissue injury and the newer support surface technologies.

This important handbook addresses technologies targeted at the assessment, early detection and the mitigation of common geriatric conditions. These include decline in functional abilities, gait, mobility, sleep disturbance, vision impairment, hearing loss, falls, and cognitive decline. This book not only describes the state of both embedded and wearable technologies, but also focuses on research showing the potential utility of these technologies in the field.

Oxidative Stress in Aging: From Model Systems to Human Diseases discusses the role of free radicals in aging in different animal models, as well as the relevance of free radicals on age-related diseases and pathological conditions in humans (following an introduction section of the basics and theory of free radicals). Human aging is a complex phenomenon - not everyone gets the same diseases and dies from the same cause. Accumulating reports implicate the connection between free radicals and various diseases and age-related pathological conditions. Although the causal relationships have not been established, it is necessary to discuss how free radicals are involved in each situation. In addition, the major interventions trials of antioxidant supplements in age-related disease, cancer and so forth are reviewed and discussed.

Significant improvements in lifestyle and medical science are leading to an ever increasing elderly population in the United States and other developed nations. The U.S census bureau estimates that the number of people over 65 will nearly double by 2030, and that the elderly will comprise nearly one-fifth of the world’s entire population within the next 20 years. In Animal Models of Human Cognitive Aging, Jennifer Bizon, Alisa Woods, and a panel of international authorities comprehensively discuss the use of animal models as a tool for understanding cognitive changes associated with the aging process. The book provides substantive background on the newest and most widely used animal models in studies of cognition and aging, while detailing the normal and pathological processes of brain aging of humans in relation to those models. Additional chapters comprehensively review frontal cortical deficits and executive function in primates as related to humans, and the use of transgenic modulation in mice to model Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases. Groundbreaking and authoritative, Animal Models of Human Cognitive Aging provides a valuable resource for Neuroscientists, Gerontological Scientists and all aging medicine researchers, while serving as a primer for understanding current brain aging studies.

The field of geriatrics foundations is rooted in the classic papers of early descriptions of aging and age-related diseases. In Classic Papers in Geriatric Medicine with Current Commentaries, the authors chose the "classic" papers, providing a combination of expert opinion and objective assessment. The 15 areas in this volume represent the beginnings of practice and thoughts about the best ways to care for older patients. Each paper is introduced by a commentary describing the singular contributions of the chosen paper, with a short list of other important early papers in that area, and, in many cases, reflect on progress in that particular field. The commentaries are personal statements by the authors about the influence of the papers chosen; not meant to be exhaustive reviews of the clinical area in question. Classic Papers in Geriatric Medicine with Current Commentaries exemplifies the importance of a paper and its ability to retain its impact over time. While many of the classic papers in this collection have stood the test of time, others have gained classic status by virtue of their profound influence in relatively quick measure or because of timeliness in filling a void in knowledge.

In recent years, remarkable discoveries have been made concerning the underlying mechanisms of aging. In Life-Span Extension: Single-Cell Organisms to Man, the editors bring together a range of illuminating perspectives from researchers investigating the aging process in a variety of species. This novel work addresses the aging process in species ranging from yeast to man and, among other subjects, features detailed discussions of the naked mole-rat, an exceptionally long-lived rodent; the relationship between dietary factors/food restriction and aging; and an evolutionary view of the human aging process.Single mutations that extend life span have been identified in yeast, worms, flies, and mice, whereas studies in humans have identified potentially important markers for successful aging. At the same time, it has been discovered that the genes and pathways identified in these studies involve a surprisingly small set of conserved functions, most of which have been the focus of aging research for some time. For example, the mTOR pathway, a regulator of translation and protein synthesis, has been identified as a common longevity pathway in yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans. In mammals, this pathway intersects with neuroendocrine pathways and with the insulin/insulin-like growth factor pathways, which have been identified as major modulators of life span and aging in both invertebrates and mice.Novel, emerging technologies and the increasingly wide variety of systems that are now used to study aging and the mechanisms of aging provide enormous opportunities for the identification of common pathways that modulate longevity. It is these common pathways that are the focus of this important volume.

The second edition of the Handbook of Pain Relief in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach expands on the first edition by providing a number of timely new features. Most important of these are the revised recommendations from the American Geriatrics Society on prescribing that reflect the many new agents available since the last guidelines were released in 2001. Additionally, concepts such as synergy in prescribing for older adults have been better delineated in this edition. The most salient features of the original edition have been retained and updated, including the full range of approaches for pain assessment and prevention, interventional strategies, guidance on pharmacotherapy and nonpharmacologic pain relief strategies for seniors, preventive analgesia, the role of rehabilitation in sound pain treatment, legal and public policy issues in pain care for seniors, pain management in long-term care, and even the issue of spirituality as an adjunct to pain management. The second edition also includes a new chapter on resources, which includes organizations, internet websites, and guidance on acquiring additional consultation for pain intervention. Of particular interest is an updated discussion of the effect that electronic medical records and internet-based personal health records will have on pain relief in older adults and a new chapter that serves as a resource guide for patients and caregivers trying to navigate the waters of pain relief assistance. This issue has not been addressed substantively in the pain management literature and the ramifications for older adults are particularly poignant. Comprehensive and practical, the Handbook of Pain Relief in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach (Second Edition) is a comprehensive resource with targeted, practical information that will be of vital importance for all clinicians who provide care for seniors.

This important handbook addresses technologies targeted at the assessment, early detection and the mitigation of common geriatric conditions. These include decline in functional abilities, gait, mobility, sleep disturbance, vision impairment, hearing loss, falls, and cognitive decline. This book not only describes the state of both embedded and wearable technologies, but also focuses on research showing the potential utility of these technologies in the field.

Oxidative Stress in Aging: From Model Systems to Human Diseases discusses the role of free radicals in aging in different animal models, as well as the relevance of free radicals on age-related diseases and pathological conditions in humans (following an introduction section of the basics and theory of free radicals). Human aging is a complex phenomenon - not everyone gets the same diseases and dies from the same cause. Accumulating reports implicate the connection between free radicals and various diseases and age-related pathological conditions. Although the causal relationships have not been established, it is necessary to discuss how free radicals are involved in each situation. In addition, the major interventions trials of antioxidant supplements in age-related disease, cancer and so forth are reviewed and discussed.

The field of geriatrics foundations is rooted in the classic papers of early descriptions of aging and age-related diseases. In Classic Papers in Geriatric Medicine with Current Commentaries, the authors chose the "classic" papers, providing a combination of expert opinion and objective assessment. The 15 areas in this volume represent the beginnings of practice and thoughts about the best ways to care for older patients. Each paper is introduced by a commentary describing the singular contributions of the chosen paper, with a short list of other important early papers in that area, and, in many cases, reflect on progress in that particular field. The commentaries are personal statements by the authors about the influence of the papers chosen; not meant to be exhaustive reviews of the clinical area in question. Classic Papers in Geriatric Medicine with Current Commentaries exemplifies the importance of a paper and its ability to retain its impact over time. While many of the classic papers in this collection have stood the test of time, others have gained classic status by virtue of their profound influence in relatively quick measure or because of timeliness in filling a void in knowledge.

Aging research on the human eyes crosses all areas of ophthalmology and also relies upon biological, morphological, physiological, and biochemical tools for its study. In Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye, the authors review all aspects of human eye aging. In addition to descriptions of age-related changes in almost all the structures of the human eyes, the authors also include interesting accounts of personal experiments and data. The ease of use and versatility of this volume makes it an essential tool for students and graduate students as well as post-doctoral and/or professional ophthalmologists. Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye provides the reader with an exhaustive panorama of what happens during aging in the eye, thus making an important contribution to the understanding of the physiology and pathology of eye diseases.

Fractures in the Elderly: A Guide to Practical Management provides geriatricians and other medical specialists who provide care for older adults with the vital guidance and most current data and opinions regarding the treatment of elderly patients who sustain a variety of fractures. It also provides orthopedic surgeons with the necessary information and most current data and opinions regarding assessment and management of geriatric conditions that predispose the elderly to fracture, perioperative complications and subsequent functional decline. Each chapter is both readable and appealing not only to geriatricians and orthopedic surgeons but to all clinicians that have contact with elderly patients who have sustained or are at high risk of sustaining a fracture. Emphasis is placed on the fact that although in some cases pre- and post-operative care in elderly fracture patient may proceed as it does in younger individuals, often there are considerations owing to functional status, pre-existing conditions, and age-related physiological declines that require specialized knowledge and alternative approaches. Developed by a group of renowned experts, Fractures in the Elderly: A Guide to Practical Management is a major addition to the literature and provides a wealth of specialized knowledge and approaches to care. It is an essential reference for all clinicians who care for older adults as well as fellows and residents in training.

The second edition of the Handbook of Pain Relief in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach expands on the first edition by providing a number of timely new features. Most important of these are the revised recommendations from the American Geriatrics Society on prescribing that reflect the many new agents available since the last guidelines were released in 2001. Additionally, concepts such as synergy in prescribing for older adults have been better delineated in this edition. The most salient features of the original edition have been retained and updated, including the full range of approaches for pain assessment and prevention, interventional strategies, guidance on pharmacotherapy and nonpharmacologic pain relief strategies for seniors, preventive analgesia, the role of rehabilitation in sound pain treatment, legal and public policy issues in pain care for seniors, pain management in long-term care, and even the issue of spirituality as an adjunct to pain management. The second edition also includes a new chapter on resources, which includes organizations, internet websites, and guidance on acquiring additional consultation for pain intervention. Of particular interest is an updated discussion of the effect that electronic medical records and internet-based personal health records will have on pain relief in older adults and a new chapter that serves as a resource guide for patients and caregivers trying to navigate the waters of pain relief assistance. This issue has not been addressed substantively in the pain management literature and the ramifications for older adults are particularly poignant. Comprehensive and practical, the Handbook of Pain Relief in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Approach (Second Edition) is a comprehensive resource with targeted, practical information that will be of vital importance for all clinicians who provide care for seniors.

In recent years, remarkable discoveries have been made concerning the underlying mechanisms of aging. In Life-Span Extension: Single-Cell Organisms to Man, the editors bring together a range of illuminating perspectives from researchers investigating the aging process in a variety of species. This novel work addresses the aging process in species ranging from yeast to man and, among other subjects, features detailed discussions of the naked mole-rat, an exceptionally long-lived rodent; the relationship between dietary factors/food restriction and aging; and an evolutionary view of the human aging process.Single mutations that extend life span have been identified in yeast, worms, flies, and mice, whereas studies in humans have identified potentially important markers for successful aging. At the same time, it has been discovered that the genes and pathways identified in these studies involve a surprisingly small set of conserved functions, most of which have been the focus of aging research for some time. For example, the mTOR pathway, a regulator of translation and protein synthesis, has been identified as a common longevity pathway in yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans. In mammals, this pathway intersects with neuroendocrine pathways and with the insulin/insulin-like growth factor pathways, which have been identified as major modulators of life span and aging in both invertebrates and mice.Novel, emerging technologies and the increasingly wide variety of systems that are now used to study aging and the mechanisms of aging provide enormous opportunities for the identification of common pathways that modulate longevity. It is these common pathways that are the focus of this important volume.

Medical practitioners receive little, if any, formal training in the prevention, assessment and management of pressure ulcers and other chronic wounds.   Pressure Ulcers in the Aging Population: A Guide for Clinicians is a resource primarily aimed at physicians interested in the fundamentals of wound care.  This book is written for geriatricians, internists, general practitioners, residents and fellows who treat older patients and unlike other texts on the market addresses the specific issues of wound prevention and managment in older individuals.      Pressure Ulcers in the Aging Population: A Guide for Clinicians emphasizes prevention, proper documentation and the team care process which are often overlooked in standard texts.  Chapters are written by experts in their fields and  include such evolving topics as deep tissue injury and the newer support surface technologies.

Significant improvements in lifestyle and medical science are leading to an ever increasing elderly population in the United States and other developed nations. The U.S census bureau estimates that the number of people over 65 will nearly double by 2030, and that the elderly will comprise nearly one-fifth of the world’s entire population within the next 20 years. In Animal Models of Human Cognitive Aging, Jennifer Bizon, Alisa Woods, and a panel of international authorities comprehensively discuss the use of animal models as a tool for understanding cognitive changes associated with the aging process. The book provides substantive background on the newest and most widely used animal models in studies of cognition and aging, while detailing the normal and pathological processes of brain aging of humans in relation to those models. Additional chapters comprehensively review frontal cortical deficits and executive function in primates as related to humans, and the use of transgenic modulation in mice to model Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases. Groundbreaking and authoritative, Animal Models of Human Cognitive Aging provides a valuable resource for Neuroscientists, Gerontological Scientists and all aging medicine researchers, while serving as a primer for understanding current brain aging studies.

Aging research on the human eyes crosses all areas of ophthalmology and also relies upon biological, morphological, physiological, and biochemical tools for its study. In Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye, the authors review all aspects of human eye aging. In addition to descriptions of age-related changes in almost all the structures of the human eyes, the authors also include interesting accounts of personal experiments and data. The ease of use and versatility of this volume makes it an essential tool for students and graduate students as well as post-doctoral and/or professional ophthalmologists. Age-Related Changes of the Human Eye provides the reader with an exhaustive panorama of what happens during aging in the eye, thus making an important contribution to the understanding of the physiology and pathology of eye diseases.

​Newly revised and updated, this book provides geriatricians and orthopedic surgeons with the most vital tools to treat elderly patients who sustain a variety of fractures. The text uniquely encompass the etiologies of fracture in the elderly, perioperative management, the surgical treatment of common fractures in the elderly, as well as rehabilitation and prevention in the older patient. It focuses on the most current data and opinions regarding assessment and management of geriatric conditions that predispose the elderly to fracture, perioperative complications and subsequent functional decline. Unlike any other text, experts in both orthopedics and geriatrics review the content of each chapter for readability and appeal to his/her respective discipline, making this the physician’s ultimate guide to treating elderly patients with injuries. Fractures in the Elderly, Second Edition is a valuable resource for geriatricians, orthopedic surgeons, physiologists, and rehabilitation specialists.

This book illustrates the imperative for late-life depression prevention, introducing a broad range of approaches to prevention and provides detailed examples of clinical applications of late-life depression prevention – all with consideration of medical and scientific, social, economic and global health perspectives. Clear guidelines are delineated for assessing, treating and preventing such conditions as depression and anxiety, dementia, psychosis and mania, sleep disturbances and personality disorders. Written by experts in the field, this text  considers the complicating conditions that depression may incur higher costs and create during the course and treatment of comorbid major medical conditions that are also highly prevalent in older adults – including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.Prevention of Late-Life Depression: Current Clinical Challenges and Priorities is an important new volume that will be useful to all providers that are concerned with themental health of our rapidly expanding aged population.

This book illustrates the imperative for late-life depression prevention, introducing a broad range of approaches to prevention and provides detailed examples of clinical applications of late-life depression prevention – all with consideration of medical and scientific, social, economic and global health perspectives. Clear guidelines are delineated for assessing, treating and preventing such conditions as depression and anxiety, dementia, psychosis and mania, sleep disturbances and personality disorders. Written by experts in the field, this text  considers the complicating conditions that depression may incur higher costs and create during the course and treatment of comorbid major medical conditions that are also highly prevalent in older adults – including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.Prevention of Late-Life Depression: Current Clinical Challenges and Priorities is an important new volume that will be useful to all providers that are concerned with themental health of our rapidly expanding aged population.