Senior Health Books

This book gives me the opportunity to take the checklists with me as I visit facilities. I am pleased to see an administrator talking about what is really going on in facilities with such concern and compassion. I have seen several other books and I must say the design of this book is easy to follow and the large print is perfect. Overall I feel it is the best overall review of someone living at home or living in a facility. I loved it!

Ably written by Emanuel M. Cane, D.C., a chiropractor with over 50 years of experience, Doctor's Journal: A Guide For Senior Longevity is a solid and well-rounded guide to maintaining and improving the quality of one's life in spite of the inevitable progression of age. Presented in plain, simple, accessible language for the non-specialist general reader, Doctor's Journal aptly covers recommended simple exercises, tips for good nutrition, ways to guard against common ailments such as stroke, sprains, and high blood pressure, and a great deal more. Doctor's Journal is highly recommended as being an excellent primer for taking good care of oneself in one's golden years - and it's never too soon to get into good health habits no matter what your age!

Following is a sketch of the information presented:

THEMES:
-prevention
-excess damage caused by running/exercising "through the pain."
-injury from improperly fitting shoes, including higher heels.
-diagnosis/misdiagnosis.
-special precautions for diabetics.
-thorough explanation of malfunctions - often it's biomechanical faults
-effectiveness/ineffectiveness vs. risk, for treatments, drugs.
-orthotics helping with ~51 foot problems.
-running shoes (meeting ~10 criteria) best for walking.
-hazards of cutting one's own feet - "bathroom surgery."
-surgery as last resort.

ANATOMY...19 illustrations of bones, joints, veins, pronation, bunion, corn, callus, heel, knee...
Forefoot: from the tips of the toes to the base of the long metatarsal bones, ball of foot.
Midfoot: cuneiform, cuboid and navicular bones, arch.
Rearfoot, talus (ankle) and the calcaneus (heel) bones.

BIOMECHANICS...:
In biomechanical fault, an abnormal amount of weight is supported by a smaller part of foot instead of distributed across the foot. Foot naturally pronates (rolls from the outside of the heel forward, then toward the inside of the foot) when the foot is taking and bearing weight...abnormal pronation may cause most foot problems. Foot naturally supinates (rolls toward the outside of the foot) as the weight is being transferred to the other foot.

BUNIONS...:
A bunion is a turning inward of the great toe joint resulting from abnormal forces from a biomechanical foot fault. There will be wear and tear in the cartilage of the big toe joint.

HAMMER TOES AND CORNS:
A corn is a protrusion on the top or side of a toe, which has developed because of the formation of a hammertoe (toe pointing downward) condition which was caused by a biomechanical fault. Improperly fitting shoes cause/aggravate the corn.

CALLUSES AND WARTS:
Calluses are...a buildup of thick skin to protect a part of the body that is subject to undue stress.
Warts have blackish pin dots (papillae) and are caused by a papilloma or verruca virus. There are no roots.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS:
The plantar fasciae are attached to the heel bone and to the five metatarsal bones in the forefoot. They support the longitudinal arch, and they also help prevent overpronation which can overstretch the fasciae so that they commence pulling the lining from the bone - periostitis. Cortisone and anti-inflammatories bring side effects and limited relief. Ultrasound and icing help a little. Prescription orthotics in running shoes comprise best treatment. PainTheory1-Bone lining partially reattaches overnight, then tears away again upon rising. PainTheory2-Fasciae contract overnight, then cause pain upon rising, until they're stretched.

HEEL SPURS:
HS are ridges, not spurs (as appearing on x-ray), and, being bone, they are not painful, but constitute a response to periostitis pain. When the plantar fasciae pull hard ... where they are attached to the heel bone, the bone eventually begins to grow in the direction of the pull, in an effort to keep the lining on the bone.

ACHILLES TENDONITIS:
AT is an inflammation caused by overstretching and twisting of the Achilles tendon, which then tends to pull the lining away from the back of the heel bone or to overstress the place where the tendon becomes the lower end of the two calf muscles. May be caused by overuse, or being born with short AT's, or long-term high heel use followed by athleticism. Friction rubs, stretching exercises and prescription orthotics help. Cortisone can fray the tendon, leading to rupture. Oral anti-inflammatories rarely help because of poor circulation to the area. Cast and physiotherapy for extreme cases.

PUMP BUMP:
PB is caused by irritation of the Achilles tendon area of the foot, usually by the pump, the shoe with 2-4" heel that is low-cut and has no straps or ties. A protrusion may form at the back of the heel to compensate for stress on a short Achilles tendon. Bursitis may occur. Ice, ultrasound, donut pad, change of footwear, or orthotics may help. Also, bump can be filed down, perhaps in conjunction with surgery.

TARSAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
TT, enclosing a couple of nerves, runs under the deltoid ligament and down the back part of the lower leg into the foot. With a biomechanical fault the deltoid ligament presses the tunnel and compresses a nerve.
Or, compression may result from a swollen ankle caused by water retention, poor circulation, pregnancy,

CHILDREN'S FEET (PODOPEDIATRICS):
abnormalities at birth; club foot; using a cast; feet turned-out/in; overlapping/curled toes; supernumerary toes; webbed feet; unequal leg lengths; late walking; toe-walking; bunions; broken bones; noninfectious breakdown of growth plate...; Freiberg's Disease; Sever's Disease; Kohler's Disease; Young Maid's Knees.

GERIATRIC FEET:
precautions; shoes and socks; osteoarthritis prevention and care; knees; toenails; dry skin; less fat under ball of foot.

SYSTEMIC DISORDERS:
atherosclerosis; intermittent claudication; diabetes; alcoholism; gout; rheumatoid arthritis;
neuromuscular diseases (polio; ALS, MS etc); pregnancy; varicose veins; swelling when stationary; vaso-dilation/constriction and effects of drugs, chemicals and heat; tobacco; alcohol; other substances; immersion foot (chilblain); poor circulation; frostbite; Raynaud's Syndrome/Disease.

ATHLETES' FEET - RUNNING AND SPORTS:
Running, aerobics, racket sports, dancing, basketball, volleyball, football, gymnastics, skating, hockey, skiing, soccer, baseball, cycling, hiking. Preventions and fixes for: ankle joint synovitis; anterior compartment syndrome; blisters; bow-leggedness; calluses; corns; hammer toes; iliotibial band friction syndrome; knock-kneedness; metatarsal stress fractures; neuromas and other nerve entrapments; piriformis syndrome; plantar fasciitis; proprioceptors injury; runner's knee; sciatica; sesamoid bone fracture; shin splints; sprained ankle; stress fracture; tarsal tunnel syndrome; toenails-black; turf toe.

DERMATOLOGICAL FOOT PROBLEMS:
warts, athlete's foot, dermatitis, moles, psoriasis, foot odor, dry feet.

NAIL PROBLEMS:
ingrown, fungal, psoriatic, thick-and-distorted.

IN SEARCH OF A SHOE THAT FITS:
-for children, adolescents, women, seniors.
-for walking, running, racket sports, aerobics, tennis, dancercise, hiking.
-characteristics: cushioning, stability, flexibility, shape, material, "breathability"

THE LATEST IN NONINVASIVE CARE, AND (GOOD,BAD) FOOT SURGERY
cosmetic foot surgery; joint replacement; hip/knee/ankle replacement; shockwave/light/sound therapies.

Why read the book? Since we are not walking and running barefoot on softer, non-flat surfaces as we were designed to do, we need special knowledge, and especially needing this are the persons responsible for the young/old/disabled/sick. Here one finds huge information, expertly presented. Don't miss this read!

Thanks,

Bill Norwood

In "Finding The Bloom Of The Cactus Generation: Improving The Quality Of Life For Seniors", author Maggie Walters draws upon her many years of training, experience, and expertise working with very elderly patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities (most of whom suffered from serious mental and/or physical ailments) to offer nursing home staff and concerned family members with an instructive introduction to how to best maximize the quality of a resident's physical and mental well being through gentle massage, patient listening, and a variety of alternative therapies. Now that the baby boom generation is approaching retirement, the need for the kind of insights and understanding that Maggie Walters has to offer makes "Finding The Bloom Of The Cactus Generation" exceptionally important and timely reading -- especially for nursing home and assisted living facility caregivers, as well as the non-specialist general reader with concerns over how best to help an aging parent enjoy life to the best extent possible for them.

The author Shirley M. Baker-Davis did a great job in exploring different aspects of inhome care for Senior Citizens. With so many different options of in home care out there, consumers nowadays really have to be careful about choosing their agency and make sure their elderlies are taken cared of in a good manner.
I own a non-medical senior home assistance agency at Houston www.riceseniorcare.com and I thought it gave me a lot of insights on a consumer perspective and how to improve my company's service.
Great book!

Great information on an important subject -- how to love and care for our senior dogs. Great layout and loaded with answers to lots of questions.
Helps you understand what is going on in your dog's aging process. Very invaluable information. Great as a reference when your dog is diagnosed with an illness or has symptoms you can't understand. Well done, and very well-written and informative.

Chuck knows exactly what we face when we start to help take care of our parents. His book is perfect in helping caregivers to understand their position as a family member that has or will begin to assist aging parents. Functionality is great, but Chuck's discussion of attitude, helpfulness and creating the right environment of our parents is fantastic. This book is refreshing and can help to set the right tone to the future ahead. Just maybe the "golden years" can be golden with love and understanding.

This book is now published by Writers Consortium (1-800-887-5526)with the ISBN number of 0964166003 and is identical. It will soon to be cataloged with Amazon.com. Librarian reviewers specified this book as a "core" purchase. Book-of-the-Month Club said, "There are so many good things about this book, but the best is that it was written by senior citizens for senior citizens.

This book addresses all the major issues faced by persons over 60 - activity choices, diet, exercise, investments, insurance, personal relationships, health care, bereavement, sexuality and much more. The book suggest spiritual development (a non-religious definition) as the guiding principle in decision-making. The book deals with these subjects with candor, joy and inspiration. An excellent book for those in mid-life to give to their parents or for a view of the future for themselves.

The author provides many practical tips to help middle-aged
and elderly people control pain successfully. For instance,
fresh pineapple has bromelain and papain helpful in flushing
bodily toxins. Tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant may act
as inflammation triggers. Acupuncture is very helpful for
muscle and pain spasm. Elderly citizens should take a daily
vitamin and a dose of up to 400 IU of Vitamin E. Arnica
may be useful for back pain. The TENS electrodes produce a mild
tingling sensation to relieve spasm. The high knee walk helps
knee pain. Natural flax will benefit aches and pains. Cold
will help to relieve pain and inflammation. Detox teas help
the body rid itself of poisons. Dandelion root, milk thistle and vitamins A, B, C and E are used as de-toxifiers. Glucosamine and
Chondriatin are helpful in reducing joint pain at a 500 MG
dose. This book will be a welcome addition to any personal
health library.