The book has four sections. The first, "Fundamentals of Aging," covers questions such as when a person becomes old, why the body changes, and how aging affects organs and systems. Related issues, such as finances, living arrangements, and coping with chronic disease and disability, also appear. Section 2, "Caring for Self and Others," deals with preventive medical care, nutrition, continuity of care, long-term care, and palliative and end-of-life care. Section 3 covers specific medical conditions that are more common in the elderly: falls, sleep problems, movement disorders, heart disorders, cancers, etc. A chapter on the importance of exercise with recommendations for those with specific diseases is very useful. The last section, "Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues," provides vital information on the decision to stop driving, intimacy, mistreatment of the elderly, and health care costs. A chapter explaining informed consent, confidentiality, capacity and competency, and advance directives will help people prepare for medical treatment. Two appendices cover the generic and trade names of drugs commonly prescribed for seniors, as well as a referral list of organizations. Charts and sidebars offer useful supplemental information. Twenty-five essays in which people share their feelings and insights about aging are scattered throughout the book.

The Merck Manual of Health and Aging is unique because it focuses on how disorders differ in older adults rather than on all aspects of a disease. It also emphasizes adapting to the bodily changes of aging and finding effective ways to cope. It is reasonably priced and belongs in all public, medical, and consumer health libraries. Barbara Bibel
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