The Gale encyclopedia of senior health: a guide for seniors and their caregivers

Abstract

The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health: A Guide for Seniors and Their Care Givers will collect approximately 500 entries that will cover various issues related to one's aging body, how diseases affect it, and treatment options, including medications, for said diseases for this population. The set will cover every major body system, and these entries will constitute over fifty percent of the work. Entries will follow a standard format, including a definition, description, symptoms, treatment options, questions to ask your doctor and more. Topics specific to the aging population, but beyond descriptions of medical diagnoses, will round out the set. Examples of this coverage include use of various adaptive devices and equipment, transportation issues, housing options, maintaining mental acuity, definitions and descriptions of the roles of different care givers (i.e. physical therapist, social worker, hospital discharge planner), nutrition and exercise guidelines, definitions of different types of medical insurance (i.e., private PPOs or HMOs vs. Medicare) and more.