A Man's Guide to Healthy Aging: Stay Smart, Strong, and Active

by Edward H. Thompson Jr., Lenard W. Kaye

Overview

Explores all aspects of health as men reach middle age and beyond.

As they reach middle age, most men begin looking forward to "what's next." They gear up to experience renewed productivity and purpose and are more conscious of their health. A Man's Guide to Healthy Aging is an authoritative resource for them, and for older men, as well. In collaboration with a variety of medical experts, the authors provide a comprehensive guide to healthy aging from a man's perspective.

Edward H. Thompson, Jr., and Lenard W. Kaye—a medical sociologist and a gerontologist and social worker—offer invaluable information in four parts:
• "Managing Our Lives" describes the actions men can take to stay healthy. Here is information about how to eat well, reduce stress, and stay active for better overall health.
• "Mind and Body" considers how physical health and state of mind are connected. It explores sleep, drug and alcohol use, spirituality, and attitudes about appearance—and explains how all of these factors affect mental health.
• "Bodily Health" examines how body systems function and what changes may occur as men age. It covers the body from head to toe and reviews how to manage chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart conditions.
• "Living with Others" shows the importance of interacting with friends and family. Topics include sexual intimacy, friendship, and caregiving, as well as how men can make the best decisions about end-of-life issues for themselves and their loved ones.

Refuting the ageist stereotype that men spend their later years "winding down," this book will help men reinvent themselves once, twice, or more—by managing their health, creating new careers, and contributing their skills and experiences to their communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421410579
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	11/25/2013
Series:	A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	584
Sales rank:	902,354
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Edward H. Thompson, Jr., is professor emeritus of sociology at the College of the Holy Cross. Lenard W. Kaye is a professor of social work and director of the Center on Aging at the University of Maine.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Part I: Managing Our Lives
1. Men's Health and Healthy Aging
2. Staying Active, with Elizabeth Conner
3. Eating Well and Less, with Elizabeth Kayajian
4. Psychology of Healthy Aging, with Clifford M. Singer
5. Men's Stress and Health
6. Social Health: Vital Relationships
Part II: Mind and Body
7. Sleep: A Necessity of Life, with Kristen Sutherland
8. Appearances: Our Bodies, Head to Toe
9. Getting in Touch with Your Spiritual Self, with David C. Wihry
10. Alcohol and Drugs, with Kristianna Hall
11. Holistic Medicine, with Kristianna Hall
Part III: Bodily Health
12. Heart Health, with Katherine Guardinoand Stefanie Tedesco
13. Cognitive Health: Memory and Memory Loss, with Elizabeth Conner and Alexandra Leichthammer
14. Men and Diabetes, with Kaitlyn Barnes
15. Genitourinary Matters and Sexual Health, with Kaitlyn Barnes
16. Bone, Joint, and Muscle Health, with Alison Ashley
17. Dental and Oral Health, with Bethany O'Dell
18. Vision and Hearing, with Cynthia Stuen
19. The Cancers
Part IV: Living with Others
20. Sexual Intimacy, with Amanda Barusch
21. Retirement
22. Caregiving: Helping Others through Difficult Times
23. End-of-Life Matters, with Stefanie Tedesco
Appendix: Places to Turn for More Information, with Jennifer A. Crittenden, Elisha M. Foss, and Lindsay Day
Notes
List of Contributors
List of Reviewers
Index

Editorial Reviews

09/02/2013
College of the Holy Cross medical sociologist Thompson and University of Maine gerontologist and professor of social work Kaye offer a helpful, upbeat guide that covers major health problems, preventative care, and social and spiritual concerns that contribute to good health. The authors have vetted the text with numerous medical professionals and base their discussions on extensive research. They begin with chapters devoted to health management, emphasizing the importance of staying active, eating healthy food, and maintaining social connections. Moderation of alcohol consumption, eliminating tobacco use, and developing spiritual practices are also repeatedly suggested as preventative measures. Alongside obvious subjects like cancer and heart disease, the authors discuss sexuality, holistic medicine, retirement, and caregiving. They conclude with a discussion of end-of-life matters, such as wills and advance directives. Though there is no discussion of vegetarian diets, for instance, and coverage of diseases is limited to the most common ones, this is a valuable resource for all middle-aged and older men. 51 b&w illus. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

It provides not just information, . . . but also a distinctive way of thinking about the health of aging men. This book does not just reproduce the same information that is available in similar guides, and it should be useful to both men and their families in addressing their health problems.
—Christian Perring, Metapsychology

This book is the perfect gift for the man who seemingly has everything except maybe a handle on his own health . . . It’s a worthwhile investment in your male loved ones’ health and life. Husbands, sons and anyone else you love will be sure to benefit from the wisdom between these pages.
—Carol Higgins Taylor, Bangor Daily News

A helpful, upbeat guide that covers major health problems, preventative care, and social and spiritual concerns that contribute to good health . . . A valuable resource for all middle-aged and older men.
—Publishers Weekly

Covers almost everything you need to know, but might be afraid to ask, about keeping fit mentally, physically, socially, intellectually and sexually through the decades.
—Wall Street Journal

An excellent, authoritative head-to-toe guide for men (40 years and older) who want to stay healthy. Much of the advice deals with long-term habits of diet, exercise, and relationships that younger men will benefit from changing before they lead to problems. This is also a good read for women who want to keep the men in their lives healthy.
—Library Journal

While the book is packed with information, it is written for the layman, with charts and graphs to make things even easier to digest.
—Dave Greenslit, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Although the title says otherwise, there are many things in this top book on health aging that applies to both sexes.
—The Senior List

The good news is that even a man who has ignored his health for most, if not all of his life, can by making major changes in his daily routine and reversing destructive habits, can generally earn back years he might otherwise have lost.
—Brian Goslow, Fifty Plus Advocate

This guide is an exhaustive review of current research into health ageing from a man's perspective, carried out over four years and vetted by medical professionals.
—Graham Clifford, Independent IE

Men would live happier, longer lives if they were better informed about how to look after themselves after 40.
—The Times

This is a well written book that is easy to pick up and get reading. The style and structure allow you to look for things that you might want to know the answer to, or to browse through looking for bits of interest.
—Ibadete Fetahu, Nursing Times

From the Publisher

The good news is that even a man who has ignored his health for most, if not all of his life, can by making major changes in his daily routine and reversing destructive habits, can generally earn back years he might otherwise have lost.

Fifty Plus Advocate - Brian Goslow

Men would live happier, longer lives if they were better informed about how to look after themselves after 40.

The Times

While the book is packed with information, it is written for the layman, with charts and graphs to make things even easier to digest.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette - Dave Greenslit

Covers almost everything you need to know, but might be afraid to ask, about keeping fit mentally, physically, socially, intellectually and sexually through the decades.

Wall Street Journal

It provides not just information, . . . but also a distinctive way of thinking about the health of aging men. This book does not just reproduce the same information that is available in similar guides, and it should be useful to both men and their families in addressing their health problems.

Metapsychology - Christian Perring

This guide is an exhaustive review of current research into health ageing from a man's perspective, carried out over four years and vetted by medical professionals.

Independent IE - Graham Clifford

Although the title says otherwise, there are many things in this top book on health aging that applies to both sexes.

The Senior List

This is a well written book that is easy to pick up and get reading. The style and structure allow you to look for things that you might want to know the answer to, or to browse through looking for bits of interest.

Nursing Times - Ibadete Fetahu

This book is the perfect gift for the man who seemingly has everything except maybe a handle on his own health . . . It’s a worthwhile investment in your male loved ones’ health and life. Husbands, sons and anyone else you love will be sure to benefit from the wisdom between these pages.

Bangor Daily News - Carol Higgins Taylor

"Men would live happier, longer lives if they were better informed about how to look after themselves after 40."

The Times

"Covers almost everything you need to know, but might be afraid to ask, about keeping fit mentally, physically, socially, intellectually and sexually through the decades."

Wall Street Journal

The authors refute the ageist stereotype that men spend their later years ‘winding down.’ The book was written to help men reinvent themselves once, twice or more by managing their health, creating new careers, and contributing their skills and experiences to their communities.

Bangor Daily News - Ardeana Hamlin

★ 02/01/2015
Thompson (emeritus, sociology, Coll. of the Holy Cross) and gerontologist Kaye (sociology, director, Center of Aging, Univ. of Maine) outline detailed information that is important to men who want to age well. Areas covered include staying active, changes in the mind and body, cognitive health, diabetes, sleep, and other areas of bodily health. (LJ 10/15/13)

Library Journal