What impact does chronic disease have on aging, and what can we do about it?

Aging and Chronic Disorders brings the most up-to-date answers into clear, readable focus. Focusing on the most prevalent conditions affecting older adults (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, and fibromyalgia), Morewitz and Goldstein analyze disabilities and risk factors, stressors and coping strategies, treatment and rehabilitation methods, and patient education and self-management. Separate chapters are devoted to cognitive changes, psychological problems, and trends in health care utilization among seniors, and all chapters are amplified by current research findings and instructive case studies. As in their recent work, Chronic Diseases and Health Care, the authors have geared their coverage to reflect the field's most pressing goals:

• Provide health care that is both clinically effective and cost-effective.
• Help elders be more proactive and self-sufficient.
• Reduce the burden on caregivers.
• Improve patients' access to health resources and social support.
• Improve older adults' quality of life.

With its wide range of issues, Aging and Chronic Disorders is a major resource for clinicians and students in primary care, gerontology, nursing, rehabilitation, epidemiology, public health, and mental health. Public health administrators and policymakers should find important insights here as well.

Stephen J. Morewitz has over 18 years experience as a behavioral/public health scientist, university faculty member, and consultant. He runs a research institution in San Francisco supervising faculty research on the epidemiology and psychosocial aspects of the lower extremity disease/injury, disability, diabetes, and arthritis, and more. He has been on the staff or faculty of Michael Reese Hospital & Medical Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine & School of Public Health, DePaul University, Argonne National Laboratory, & the California College of Podiatric Medicine.

Mark L. Goldstein, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois. Dr. Goldstein has a private practice specializing in forensic psychology and counseling. He is also an adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and consultant to a suburban school system. Dr. Goldstein received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida and was previously a core faculty member at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Roosevelt University. He is the editor of a book, Behavioral Science Education, and the author of numerous professional articles.

"Aging and Chronic Disease" provides new perspectives on how aging is affected by chronic disease. The book focuses on how chronic disorders, such as diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer influence stress, coping, and quality of life among older adults. The book emphasizes how management of risk factors for chronic diseases, new treatment and rehabilitation outcomes, social support, and patient education can reduce health care costs and improve coping strategies, quality of life, and longevity of older adults. Covering a wide range of topics from health care disparities, costs, new trends in disease risk factors, cognitive changes in older adults, and disability outcomes, this book will be relevant to a wide range of professionals and students in the fields of gerontology, public health, mental health, social work, health administration, and social sciences.