A Beginner's Interdisciplinary Introduction to Aging : A Practical Guide to Understanding the Biological, Psychological, Social, and Policy Dimensions
Overview
What does it really mean to grow older?
Whether you're a student stepping into the field of gerontology, a healthcare professional seeking a broader framework for caring for older patients, a caregiver navigating the realities of supporting an aging loved one, or simply someone who wants to understand the decades ahead with greater clarity and confidence, A Beginner's Interdisciplinary Introduction to Aging offers the most comprehensive, accessible, and evidence-informed guide available.
Written by Julia T. Peralta, this groundbreaking textbook moves beyond the narrow view of aging as decline and disease to reveal the full complexity of what growing older actually involves. Drawing on biology, psychology, sociology, medicine, ethics, economics, public policy, and the humanities, Peralta weaves together a rich, integrated portrait of aging that reflects the reality of how older adults actually live.
Inside this book, you will discover:
- How the body changes at the cellular and systemic level, and what those changes mean for health and daily life
- The truth about cognitive aging, memory, and dementia, including what is normal, what is not, and what you can do about it
- How identity, purpose, relationships, and emotional resilience evolve across the decades of later adulthood
- The powerful role of culture, gender, race, and socioeconomic status in shaping who ages well and who does not
- Practical frameworks for navigating healthcare systems, long-term care options, and end-of-life planning
- The social programs, housing options, and community designs that support independence and dignity in later life
- Emerging technologies, global demographic trends, and the future of gerontology as a field
- Ethical frameworks for the most difficult decisions aging individuals and families face
Each chapter integrates foundational theory with real-world application, current research with practical reflection activities, and clinical knowledge with compassionate human insight. From the biology of the aging cell to the ethics of advance care planning, from the grief of bereavement to the possibilities of age-friendly communities, this book gives readers the conceptual tools to think clearly, care skillfully, and advocate effectively for older adults in any setting.
This is not a book about aging as a problem to be solved. It is a book about aging as a human experience to be understood, supported, and honored.
Ideal for: undergraduate and graduate courses in gerontology, nursing, social work, public health, and allied health professions; continuing education for healthcare and social service professionals; family caregivers seeking deeper understanding; and any adult who wants to engage thoughtfully with one of the defining experiences of human life.
A Beginner's Interdisciplinary Introduction to Aging is the comprehensive, compassionate, and rigorously evidence-based guide the field has needed.
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9798185224373
- ISBN-10: 9798185224373
- Publisher: Independently Published
- Publish Date: July 2026
- Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.47 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.67 pounds
- Page Count: 224
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