The Encyclopedia of Senior Health and Well-Being (Facts on File Library of Health and Living) PDF
Preview The Encyclopedia of Senior Health and Well-Being (Facts on File Library of Health and Living)
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SENIOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SENIOR HEALTH AND WELL–BEING Joseph Kandel, M.D. Christine Adamec The Encyclopedia of Senior Health and Well-being Copyright © 2003 by Christine Adamec All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kandel, Joseph. The encyclopedia of senior health and well being / Joseph Kandel, Christine Adamec. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-8160-4691-3 1. Aged—Health and hygiene—Encyclopedias. 2. Geriatrics—Encyclopedias. I. Adamec, Christine A., 1949– II. Title. RA777.6 .K357 2003 613’.0438’03—dc21 2002010485 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text and cover design by Cathy Rincon Printed in the United States of America VB FOF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. This book is dedicated to my wife, Merrylee, for her continued support, love, caring, and patience. Her insight, wit, and wisdom make this and every other project so worthwhile. Always, —Joseph Kandel h I dedicate this book to my husband, John, who is always supportive and immensely helpful to me in all my endeavors. —Christine Adamec CONTENTS Foreword ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction xiii Entries A–Z 1 Appendixes 255 Bibliography 299 Index 307 FOREWORD ur population is getting older. It’s no secret. On a personal level, as a parent of young chil- OSenior adults are becoming the very old, and dren and caregiver to two senior adults, I am a more people are becoming senior adults. Many member of the “sandwich generation.” The stresses problems and issues have arisen with this develop- that places on a family, on time commitments, and ment, not the least of which is a concern over health on the emotions are immense. Balancing the differ- care and health maintenance. ent aspects of care between my children and my Thus, this book is more necessary now than ever parents is often difficult. before. As a board-certified clinical neurologist, I My mother-in-law is 86, and my father is 80. Cer- deal with senior patients every single day. The ques- tainly their medical conditions play a prominent role tions they ask, the concerns they have, are strikingly in my day-to-day life. My mother-in-law is vision similar, although they may express them differently. and hearing impaired, and although she is certainly Some of these concerns include, “Will I become bright, these profound medical conditions clearly ill and frail?” “Will I have enough money?” “Will I have had a dramatic impact on her independence. become infirm and have to live in a nursing home?” My father has a memory impairment that has led to “What’s a nursing home like?” “Who is going to take a host of different issues. In this book, we address care of me?” “Will I have enough money to live, or these very real-world concerns, as well as many, will I run out of money before I die?” many other issues as they relate to senior adults. These are just a few of the questions that I hear With aging, one acquires a wealth of experience, repeatedly, and certainly they are cause for alarm. of knowledge, and of understanding of our culture Although this book does not attempt to solve social and our world. However, with advanced age also come problems or many of the ills that face our senior multiple problems—financial, social, emotional, med- adults, it does attempt to be a comprehensive ency- ical, and legal, to list just a few. All of these issues are clopedia of elder care of the myriad issues from A to dealt with in this encyclopedia. We hope that read- Z confronting senior adults. It also provides a wealth ers will find it of great benefit in providing the infor- of information and knowledge that can be very mation they need to understand their concerns helpful, particularly as a reference source, for agen- regarding senior adults and to make the best choices cies in answering these and other similar questions. possible when faced with difficult decisions. —Joseph Kandel, M.D. ix
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