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This book includes care plans by body systems for disorders common among the elderly population. Care begins with a comprehensive review and assessment followed by data analysis, and development of a specific plan of care. The discussion of each condition starts with the medical care such as laboratory work, tests, and medications, the nursing diagnosis as approved by the North American Diagnosis Association (NANDA) taxonomy 2003-2004, related etiology, defining characteristics, goals and outcome criteria/ Nursing Outcome Classification (NOC), interventions with rationales, Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC), and evaluation of the patient’s goals and consideration for the next action.

This book has a preface, 11 units, bibliography, four appendix-NANDA Nursing Diagnosis, Nursing Outcomes Classifications (NOC), Nursing Interventions Classifications (NIC), and abbreviations–, an index, and a place for notes. The units include: 1. Cardiovascular system (coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and pacemakers), 2. Respiratory System (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseased, influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis), 3. Neurologic System (Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular accident, depression, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders and transient ischemic attach), 4. Gastrointestinal/Hepatic Systems (bowel disorders, cholecystitis, diveticular disease, gastroesophageal reflux, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhoids, hepatitis, liver failure, and malnutrition, 5. Genitourinary System (interstitial cystitis, menopause, benign prostatic hypertrophy, sexual disorders, urinary tract infections, and chronic renal failure), 6. Ophthalmologic System (cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration), 7 Hemotolotic System (anemia), 8. Endocrine System ( diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction), 9. Musculoskeletal System (arthritis, fractures, osteoporosis, total joint replacement), 10. Integumentary System (hypothermia, hyperthermia, and decutitus ulcer), 11. Other Considerations (cancer/malignancies, drug poisoning/overdoses, elder abuse and long-term care). There is a conceptual map at the end of each chapter. A CD for an electronic care plan maker is included in the back of the book, but I could not use mine because the file I was trying to copy was older than the Windows XP I was using.

The preface indicates that aging is a process of gradual changes with inevitable decline in later years but that healthy aging involves minimal disease impairment, may avoid catastrophic disease and maintain an active healthy lifestyle until death. It is important that compassionate and sensitive care be provided to the aging whether that care is administered at home, retirement community, outpatient clinic, long-term care facility, alternative care facility, or hospital. This comprehensive reference book is excellent for providers working with the elderly, students and faculty in any location. It tells what to do but not how to do it. It needs to be used in conjunction with other books.

Rating: 5 / 5