"Nurses play a vital role in improving the safety and quality of patient car -- not only in the hospital or ambulatory treatment facility, but also of community-based care and the care performed by family members. Nurses need know what proven techniques and interventions they can use to enhance patient outcomes. To address this need, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), with additional funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has prepared this comprehensive, 1,400-page, handbook for nurses on patient safety and quality -- Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. (AHRQ Publication No. 08-0043)." - online AHRQ blurb, http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/

During the 1970s and 1980s prescription and over-the-counter drugs had come to play a major role in the health care of older people. Originally published in 1986, this book reviews the historical background to this development and explores its social and pharmacological implications. The main aim of the study was to provide a critical perspective on drug use together with a framework for developing effective prescribing policies. The authors do not, in developing their arguments, reject the enormous value of drugs in the treatment of many illnesses affecting older people; they do, however, criticise excessive as well as inappropriate prescribing. The intention was to provide some practical illustrations of how the harmful effects of drug use can be curtailed. This book was aimed, in particular, at workers in the health services, for example: doctors, health visitors, district nurses, pharmacists, the professions allied to medicine. However, it should also be of interest to other groups such as social workers, carers, support groups and older people themselves.

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

Updated to keep pace with the latest data and statistics, Drugs and Society, Thirteenth Edition, contains the most current information available concerning drug use and abuse. Written in an objective and user-friendly manner, this best-selling text continues to captivate students by taking a multidisciplinary approach to the impact of drug use and abuse on the lives of average individuals.

Learn how to talk—and listen—to your elderly clients Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society examines the aspects of aging that transcend physical and biological changes, addressing practical concerns such as communication, understanding values, and end-of-life issues. This unique book provides pharmacists with the basics on how to enhance their service to the elderly and offers additional suggestions for improving the empathy and understanding they have for their patients. The book explores general health and pharmacy concerns of the elderly, including abuse, neglect, sexuality, stress, and addictions, and presents methods of helping seniors stay healthy through exercise and with appropriate interventions. 34 figures, tables, and exhibits make complex information easy to access and understand. Fewer than five percent of persons over 65 end up in a nursing home, and many stay only long enough to recover or rehabilitate before returning home. The other 95 percent need our attention and our care. Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society helps pharmacists develop the special tools they need to deal with the elderly, identifying the most challenging areas, and providing effective frameworks for addressing them. The book also includes sidebars that summarize important ideas, including: “Communication”—choosing the right words when delivering difficult or even unwelcome information to patients “Ethics on the Spot”—anticipating difficult questions and determining if information is appropriate to pass along to a patient “Statistics at a Glance”—comparative statistics presented in a way that makes a point “Cutting Edge”—current research findings and what they mean to your patients “Too Late Now”—when changing a patient’s behavior or adding a medication is unlikely to help “Then and Now”—compares past treatment and approaches with current ones and much more! Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society is an essential resource for community and hospital pharmacists, educators, and anyone else with an interest in health.

This open access book provides a comprehensive perspective on the concept of ageism, its origins, the manifestation and consequences of ageism, as well as ways to respond to and research ageism. The book represents a collaborative effort of researchers from over 20 countries and a variety of disciplines, including, psychology, sociology, gerontology, geriatrics, pharmacology, law, geography, design, engineering, policy and media studies. The contributors have collaborated to produce a truly stimulating and educating book on ageism which brings a clear overview of the state of the art in the field. The book serves as a catalyst to generate research, policy and public interest in the field of ageism and to reconstruct the image of old age and will be of interest to researchers and students in gerontology and geriatrics.

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.