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Publisher: Gale, Detroit, MI, 2009, $650.
ISBN: 978 1 4144 0383 0. 5 vols, Also available as an e-book (ISBN 978 1 4144 4855 8)
The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health: A Guide for Seniors and Their Caregivers is a comprehensive, five-volume health reference text designed to inform and educate readers about a variety of diseases and conditions, nutrition and dietary practices, treatment and drugs as well as other issues associated with the health of seniors.
This five-volume set contains over 600 entries classified under five types. The main section covers Diseases and Conditions, which constitutes over 50 per cent of the book. These entries cover every major system in the body, how diseases affects it and treatment options, including medications. Sample entries include Arthritis, Balance Problems, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Varicose Veins. The next type of entry covers Treatment, Rehabilitation and Recovery. These topics are specific to the ageing population but beyond the description of medical diagnoses. Examples of this coverage include use of various adaptive devices and equipment, transportation issues, housing options, maintaining mental acuity, definitions of the roles of different care givers (e.g. physical therapist, social worker, hospital discharge planner), nutrition and exercise guidelines and definitions of different types of medical insurance. Not all these topics would be applicable to the UK audience, but some people may find it of interest. The third type of entry covers Aging, General Health, Death and Dying where topics such as loneliness,...