Geriatrics Handbook

People are living longer.

Life expectancy has doubled in the last two hundred years.

We expect the number of centenarians to be over 200,000 in the next ten years.

Those living into their eighties and nineties will be common.

Over the next ten years, it is possible that 30 percent of the population will be retired adults above the age of sixty-five.

Increasing longevity and aging has its positives and negatives. It is desirable to see that people are living longer, but they also face an increasing number of healthcare and socioeconomic issues. It is a well-established fact that health-care costs increase toward the end of life.

Geriatrics is a medical specialty of providing health care for the older adult. Their health-care needs differ from those of the younger population. This handbook addresses various medical problems as it relates to older patients. Prevention of health hazards and expression of compassionate care deserve as much attention as providing appropriate medical care.

This handbook is ideal for:

Medical professionals who render much of the current geriatric care in many parts of the world.

-Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, allied professionals, and gerontologists.

Students, interns, residents, fellows

Aging adults.

Caregivers and family members of aging adults

Healthcare administrators

Awareness of aging adults' needs, palliative care, and end-of-life issues with their emotional, moral, and financial aspects are often ignored or forgotten in the busy life of a medical practitioner. Today, medical science focuses more on short-term fixes and immediate problem solving instead of treating the whole person. Hence, a considerable amount of a senior's care falls on the shoulders of nurses, aides, and on family members.

The authors hope this handbook will illuminate the healthcare needs of our aging population.