In Health, Illness, and Optimal Aging: Biological and Psychosocial Perspectives, Carolyn M. Aldwin and Diane F. Gilmer undertake the challenging task of assembling an objective and holistic picture of human aging. The authors provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary coverage of the physical aspects of aging, including age-related changes and disease-related processes, the demography of the aging population, theories of aging, and the promotion of optimal aging. In addition, the book covers the psychosocial aspects of aging, including mental health, stress and coping, spirituality, and care giving in later years. Health, Illness and Optimal Aging is recommended for researchers seeking an overview of health psychology and aging, as well as undergraduate and graduate students taking classes in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. This text is also valuable for practitioners working with the elderly in fields such as nursing, social work, occupational and physical therapy, day-care and nursing home administration, psychology, and rehabilitation.

Health, Illness, and Optimal Aging: Biological and Psychosocial Perspectives, Third Edition shows the continuity and advancements in our understanding of human life-span development... It offers a solid foundation for exploring the art and science of successful aging.- Robert M. Kaplan, Stanford University

"Aldwin and Gilmer have supplied an interesting textual model for examining health, illness, and aging. Their homogenized approach to aging research is refreshing and insightful."--Anthropology and Aging Quarterly "Clearly written at a level for college students, this is an excellent resource on aging...Highly recommended.--Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries Spanning the biological and psychosocial aspects of aging, this upper-level undergraduate and graduate text integrates current findings in biology, psychology, and the social sciences to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary coverage of the aging process. This new edition incorporates the tremendous amount of research that has come to light since the first edition was published. From a physical perspective, the text examines age-related changes and disease-related processes, the demography of the aging population, aging theories, and how to promote optimal aging. Coverage of the psychosocial aspects of aging encompasses mental health, stress and coping, spirituality, and caregiving in later years. The authors address demographic, theoretical, and methodological issues on aging, including a worldwide overview of aging demographics. The book reviews biological and psychosocial theories and offers much-needed information on longitudinal design and statistics as they relate to aging research. It discusses the aging of the major organ systems, the brain and sensory systems, and the endocrine and immune systems; basic anatomy and physiology; normal, impaired, and optimal aging; and functional health. Psychosocial factors that affect health are addressed, including the interplay between physical health and mental health, stress, coping, and social support. The text also covers current issues in social gerontology, including such promising new trends as gerontechnology and Green Houses, and provides information on health promotion programs. New to the Second Edition: Information involving retirement, volunteer opportunities, housing, and adaptation to health changes Coverage of economics and aging, including information on social security and other retirement income and the future of Medicare and Medicaid Significant new information about the regulatory systems Revised and updated chapters on death and dying and optimal aging Discussions on two models of optimal aging and valuable tips for its promotion URLs to relevant websites for additional information

Grounded in the core competencies recommended by the AACN in collaboration with the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, Ebersole & Hess’ Toward Healthy Aging, 8th Edition is the most comprehensive resource on health promotion and maintenance for older adults and their caregivers. With coverage of communication, safety and ethical considerations, new genetic research, key aging issues, and common and uncommon conditions, you will have the knowledge you need to promote healthy lifestyle choices, properly address end-of-life issues, and provide effective, holistic care for older adults. Consistent chapter organization with objectives, case studies with critical thinking questions, and research questions make information easy to access and use. A strong focus on health and wellness emphasizes a positive approach to aging. Disease processes are discussed in the context of healthy adaptation, nursing support, and responsibilities. Research highlights help incorporate the latest research findings into practice. Nutrition chapter includes the most current guidelines for older adults and addresses patients’ dietary needs. Scales and guidelines for proper health assessment provide the essential information for assessing the older adult patient. Case studies with critical thinking questions offer realistic situations to expand your knowledge and understanding. Careful attention to age, cultural, and gender differences are integrated throughout and highlight important considerations when caring for older adults. Content grounded in the core competencies offers the knowledge needed to achieve the National League for Nursing ACES program’s Essential Nursing Actions and meets the Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for the Nursing Care of Older Adults, the Geriatric Nursing Education State of the Science Papers, and the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing Best Practices in Nursing Care to Older Adults. NEW! QSEN content highlights quality and safety issues students need to know when treating older patients. NEW! Chapter covering the role of communication emphasizes the importance of communication in improving care. NEW! Focus on genetics highlights the vast amount of new genetic research and its effects on all aspects of health and aging. NEW! Information on ethical considerations explores and illustrates potential issues when dealing with older adults. NEW! Healthy People 2020 information assists your students in integrating their knowledge about healthy aging considerations into care.

The authors undertake the difficult task of assembling an objective and holistic picture of human aging, including the physical aspects of aging, chronic disease and health promotion in the later years, for students and professionals.

Aging well and continuing to be active are often regarded as the goals in life, from individual, family, community, and population perspectives. This implies good health and physical fitness, good cognitive and positive emotional-motivational functioning, and social participation and engagement.

Fully updated and revised, this new edition of a highly successful text provides students, clinicians, and academics with a thorough introduction to aging and mental health. The third edition of Aging and Mental Health is filled with new updates and features, including the impact of the DSM-5 on diagnosis and treatment of older adults. Like its predecessors, it uses case examples to introduce readers to the field of aging and mental health. It also provides both a synopsis of basic gerontology needed for clinical work with older adults and an analysis of several facets of aging well. Introductory chapters are followed by a series of chapters that describe the major theoretical models used to understand mental health and mental disorders among older adults. Following entries are devoted to the major forms of mental disorders in later life, with a focus on diagnosis, assessment, and treatment issues. Finally, the book focuses on the settings and contexts of professional mental health practice and on emerging policy issues that affect research and practice. This combination of theory and practice helps readers conceptualize mental health problems in later life and negotiate the complex decisions involved with the assessment and treatment of those problems. Features new material on important topics including positive mental health, hoarding disorder, chronic pain, housing, caregiving, and ethical and legal concerns Substantially revised and updated throughout, including reference to the DSM-5 Offers chapter-end recommendations of websites for further information Includes discussion questions and critical thinking questions at the end of each chapter Aging and Mental Health, Third Edition is an ideal text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, for service providers in psychology, psychiatry, social work, and counseling, and for clinicians who are experienced mental health service providers but who have not had much experience working specifically with older adults and their families.

Essential Concepts for Healthy Living, Fifth Edition Update provides students with a clear and concise introduction to the latest scientific and medical research in personal health. With its unique focus on critical thinking and analysis of health-related behaviors and attitudes, this text enhances students’ understanding of their own health needs and presents the scientific background necessary for students to think critically about the reliability of health-related information they encounter in the media. The Fifth Edition Update provides the most current data on a comprehensive array of health and wellness topics and issues. It includes the latest information on: Health Care Costs; Binge Drinking; Alternative Medical Therapies; Mental Illness and Depression; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Eating Disorders; Physical Activity and Health; Cervical and Prostate Cancer; Drug Use and Abuse, and much more.

Print+CourseSmart

First Published in 2011. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.