Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Caring for the aging population is one of the most important challenges of the twenty- first century. Media outlets, political figures, books, and television programming frequently elaborate on the difficulties the world will face as the age of the population increases.[1] Studies also indicate that not only are people living to an older age, but they may also have an increased number of quality years as defined by better cognitive function and self-perceived health at the end of life.[2] Therefore, the aging population has become a topic that deserves attention from the medical community"--Provided by publisher.