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Physical Change and Aging: A Guide for the Helping Professions, Fifth Edition
"[This book] has been honed into an elegant compendium. This outstanding work should be widely read - it is perhaps the best example of an integrative approach to gerontology". 94, 4 stars -Doody's This book serves as an authoritative textbook and guide to the physical changes and common pathologies associated with the aging process, with special emphasis on the psychological and social implications of these changes in the lives of older adults. This fifth edition presents the newly available research findings that differentiate "normal" aging from actual pathology. The authors provide a thoroughly updated and expanded review of important topics in aging, including death and grieving, complementary and alternative therapies, nutrition, exercise, and much more. The book also demonstrates how the elderly population can gain greater personal control over aging through lifestyle modifications and preventive health strategies. Key topics introduced and Psychosocial theories of aging Changes and disorders in the skeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems Dementia, delirium, and mild cognitive impairment Aging in persons with lifelong disabilities This volume serves as a comprehensive textbook for students studying to become health care professionals, and is also a fundamental resource for gerontologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, clergy, and counselors.
- GenresSchoolNonfictionHealth
512 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
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29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 7, 2012
People need an owner's manual for the body, and the aging body presents specific challenges. Even young people should read this book in order to adopt habits that can prevent or at least postpone some age-related problems. Almost every chapter motivates me to eat healthier, exercise more and better manage my stress. I don't smoke or drink, which will help me avoid some of the problems described.
Others are just a consequence of aging that cannot be entirely prevented. We all have a slowing of the cognitive system. We lose muscle mass. Most people have problems with vision and hearing (men lose hearing at an earlier age, but women catch up by their 80s). Arthritis, diabetes, diverticulitis, heart disease, high cholesterol are prevalent, but some lifestyle choices can ward them off.
If you or anyone you know has an aging body, pick up this book and gain some insight into the changes they (and you) will experience.
The contents are as follows:
Ch. 1 "Perspectives on Aging"
Ch. 2 "Theories of Aging"
Ch. 3 "The Skin, Hair, and Nails"
Ch. 4 "The Musculoskeletal System"
Ch. 5 "The Nervous System"
Ch. 6 "Dementia and Delirium"
Ch. 7 "The Sensory Systems"
Ch. 8 "The Cardiovascular System"
Ch. 9 "The Respiratory System"
Ch. 10 "The Gastrointenstinal System"
Ch. 11 "The Urinary System"
Ch. 12 "The Reproductive System"
Ch. 13 "The Endocrine System"
Ch. 14 "The Immune System"
Ch. 15 "Aging with Lifelong Disabilities"
Ch. 16 "Special Topics:: Alcoholism, Falls, Foot Care Pain"
Ch. 17 "Health Promotion and Exercise"
Ch. 18 "Complementary and Alternative Therapies"
Ch. 19 "Nutrition"
Ch. 20 "Medications and the Elderly"
Ch. 21 "Teaching Older Adults"
Ch. 22 "Caregiving"
Ch. 23 "Death and Grief in the Later Years"
Appendix A "Practical Hints for the Safety of Older Adults"
Appendix B "Resources"
Others are just a consequence of aging that cannot be entirely prevented. We all have a slowing of the cognitive system. We lose muscle mass. Most people have problems with vision and hearing (men lose hearing at an earlier age, but women catch up by their 80s). Arthritis, diabetes, diverticulitis, heart disease, high cholesterol are prevalent, but some lifestyle choices can ward them off.
If you or anyone you know has an aging body, pick up this book and gain some insight into the changes they (and you) will experience.
The contents are as follows:
Ch. 1 "Perspectives on Aging"
Ch. 2 "Theories of Aging"
Ch. 3 "The Skin, Hair, and Nails"
Ch. 4 "The Musculoskeletal System"
Ch. 5 "The Nervous System"
Ch. 6 "Dementia and Delirium"
Ch. 7 "The Sensory Systems"
Ch. 8 "The Cardiovascular System"
Ch. 9 "The Respiratory System"
Ch. 10 "The Gastrointenstinal System"
Ch. 11 "The Urinary System"
Ch. 12 "The Reproductive System"
Ch. 13 "The Endocrine System"
Ch. 14 "The Immune System"
Ch. 15 "Aging with Lifelong Disabilities"
Ch. 16 "Special Topics:: Alcoholism, Falls, Foot Care Pain"
Ch. 17 "Health Promotion and Exercise"
Ch. 18 "Complementary and Alternative Therapies"
Ch. 19 "Nutrition"
Ch. 20 "Medications and the Elderly"
Ch. 21 "Teaching Older Adults"
Ch. 22 "Caregiving"
Ch. 23 "Death and Grief in the Later Years"
Appendix A "Practical Hints for the Safety of Older Adults"
Appendix B "Resources"
April 14, 2020
I assigned this textbook for an undergraduate gerontology class "The Biology of Aging." I studied the 5th addition as a graduate student and found it readable for students studying the social sciences. Consequently, I selected this as the main textbook.
The book has 23 chapters. Most are organized according to a system (such as the urinary system). These chapters start with an overview of the anatomy with an explanation of how things work normally. Then the chapter discusses specific age-related challenges. Frequently, there are sections about diseases that are common among older adults. There are also discussions of prevention and treatments.
Some chapters focus on multisystem issues such as falls, dementia, nutrition, and medications.
As you can imagine, it's hard to write a book like this without having a lot of overlap, so some issues are spread across multiple chapters. Nevertheless, there's a strong table of contents, good headings, and a detailed index.
My students found the book accessible. Their majors included community health, health administration, physical therapy, and sociology (with the intent of going to grad school in psychology).
If I teach this class again in a couple of years, I'll most likely use this textbook again.
The book has 23 chapters. Most are organized according to a system (such as the urinary system). These chapters start with an overview of the anatomy with an explanation of how things work normally. Then the chapter discusses specific age-related challenges. Frequently, there are sections about diseases that are common among older adults. There are also discussions of prevention and treatments.
Some chapters focus on multisystem issues such as falls, dementia, nutrition, and medications.
As you can imagine, it's hard to write a book like this without having a lot of overlap, so some issues are spread across multiple chapters. Nevertheless, there's a strong table of contents, good headings, and a detailed index.
My students found the book accessible. Their majors included community health, health administration, physical therapy, and sociology (with the intent of going to grad school in psychology).
If I teach this class again in a couple of years, I'll most likely use this textbook again.
Want to read
January 21, 2021WT 104 S273p 2015
June 26, 2014
Walks through all of the body systems and discusses the impact that aging has on each. Good discussions on safety and theories of aging. Great to use for prep, but not necessarily good for the semester class of health aspects of aging - little too much physical health.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews