Encyclopedia of Aging

"As our population ages, interest and scholarship in issues surrounding our later years have intensified. From the general to specific, the 400-plus well-referenced entries cover an impressive range of medical, psychological, sociological, public-policy, and biological subjects. There are good cross-references, along with bibliographies at the end of each article and a handy list of of articles grouped by topic areas. Whether you are looking for information on genetics, social theories of aging, mental health, or pensions and Social Security, this four-volume encylopedia presents information to the general reader while serving as a good starting point for either the high-school or college researcher."--"The Best of the Best Reference Sources," American Libraries, May 2003.

This four-volume reference for high school students and above overviews all aspects of aging as studied through the disciplines of biology, medicine, economics, law, psychology, sociology, and history. In addition to the physical changes that occur in the later years, 415 alphabetically arranged signed articles by leading scholars discuss religion, spirituality, ethics, the policies and practices that promote well-being for older people, the changes that occur with an aging society, and miscellaneous related topics such as the effect of divorce, senior housing, retirement and health-care options, widowhood, and others. Entries include cross-references and bibliographic information. The volumes contain organization addresses and web sites, and about 300 b&w illustrations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

This four-volume set makes the latest professional research on gerontology accessible to general readers, especially high school and college students. Under the direction of Ekerdt (sociology and gerontology, Univ. of Kansas), some of the world's leading gerontologists and aging researchers have contributed 400-plus concise and readable entries that offer excellent introductions to important concepts. The entries, which cover an array of topics selected from the humanities and the life, biological, and social sciences, feature such key issues as nursing homes, animal models of aging, the visual arts, mental health, community services, disorders of later life, sensory changes, housing, benefit programs, research techniques, genetics, careers in aging, and retirement. Although the text focuses primarily on the United States, aging in other nations and cultures is examined as well. Many of the entries are supplemented with diagrams, photographs, and drawings, and all are accompanied by short, current bibliographies of primary resource materials. A contents outline explains the encyclopedia's approach to aging, while the list of articles offers an overview of the entire set. In addition, numerous cross references help readers navigate aging's interdisciplinary knowledge base. Other books in this area include the single-volume Encyclopedia of Elder Care, a somewhat technical volume focusing primarily on healthcare and caregiver issues; The Encyclopedia of Aging, 3d ed., edited by George L. Maddox, which is similar to Ekerdt's volume in its scope and coverage but lacks the overall vision that is so well explained in Ekerdt's preface; and the slightly dated two-volume Encyclopedia of Gerontology: Age, Aging, and the Aged, edited by James E. Birren, which emphasizes health and biological issues and is occasionally vague or overly scientific in its subject descriptors. Ekerdt's work is a good choice for large public and academic libraries.-Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Lib., Cleveland Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.