Preface

With this web edition of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, we continue the tradition of providing information of clinical relevance on geriatric care. Providing the best geriatric care requires an extraordinarily large base of information--everything from internal medicine to pharmacology and dermatology to rehabilitation medicine and psychiatry. However, good geriatric care also requires a different approach, one that coordinates care among physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, pharmacists, and many other health professionals.

Education of patients and their caregivers is also a big part of geriatric care. Therefore, we have attempted to create a truly interdisciplinary textbook that reflects the optimal approach to geriatric care. We realize that not all of the information provided will be of interest to each reader; however, collectively it covers most of what needs to be known about caring for the elderly. Although The Merck Manual of Geriatrics is written primarily for clinicians, we hope that its breadth of coverage will make it useful to others involved in geriatric care.

When Merck & Co., Inc. first published The Merck Manual of Geriatrics in 1990, the book filled a void in information sources on care of the elderly. That book was received well and was ultimately translated and distributed in nations around the world. The 2nd Edition followed five years later and once again sold throughout the world, ensuring its impact on improving geriatric care. By the time the 3rd Edition became available in 2000, we had already begun posting The Merck Manuals on our web site free of charge as a public service from Merck. Use of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics online increased, once again ensuring the book's impact on improving geriatric care.

We gratefully acknowledge our distinguished editorial board, who reviewed all chapters, and the more than 150 experts who provided manuscripts and served as consultants. All of them share the hope that those who use this book will find it useful and, ultimately, of benefit to their patients.

We welcome your comments and will carefully consider all suggestions for improvement.

Mark H. Beers, MD
Thomas V. Jones, MD, MPH

This topic was last updated May 2005.