Review by Choice Review
The anticipated increase in the elderly population with the concomitant increase in their health-care needs poses a significant challenge to health-care policymakers and providers in this era of cost containment. This collection meets the challenge head-on and has the potential to become resource for discussions of current and future health policy for the elderly. Contributors, nationally known experts in gerontology or geriatrics, provide a comprehensive analysis of the present state of fiscal policy and the structure of the health care "non-system" for the elderly. More important, however, they look toward future health-care needs of the aging population, and, balanced against available resources, offer thought-provoking suggestions on how the needs might be met. They discuss demographics, financing of care, sources and organization of care, ethical and political issues, and special problems of clinical geriatrics (e.g., alcoholism and mental health). A particular asset is the inclusion of contributors from a variety of disciplines, including nursing, medicine, public health, social work, business, and government. The writing style is consistent across chapters, and the bibliographies are comprehensive and timely. A valuable reference for academic libraries and a required addition to libraries serving faculty and students in the field of gerontology. -M. A. Thompson, Saint Joseph College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
