Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press 1995). Acknowledgments, appendices, author index, bibliographical references, foreword, preface, subject index. LC 95-32989; ISSN 0743-7560 [328 pp. Cloth $75.00. 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881.

Belfort, David E.

English

University of New Hampshire

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)
Volume 7 | Number 1 Article 10
January 1996
Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for
the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press
1995)
David E. Belfort
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/risk
Part of the Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, and the Gerontology
Commons
This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the University of New Hampshire – School of Law at University of New Hampshire
Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002) by an authorized editor of University of
New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact ellen.phillips@law.unh.edu.
Repository Citation
David E. Belfort, Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press 1995), 7 RISK 91
(1996).
Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research
Guide (Greenwood Press 1995)
Erratum
The citation for this review is 7 RISK 89 (1996) in most commercial databases.
This book review is available in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002): https://scholars.unh.edu/risk/vol7/iss1/10
Book Reviews 91
Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide
(Greenwood Press 1995). Acknowledgments, appendices, author index,
bibliographical references, foreword, preface, subject index. LC 95-32989; ISSN
0743-7560 [328 pp. Cloth $75.00. 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881.]
The aging of the baby boom generation and concurrent growth of
the field of gerontology make this bibliographical resource timely. Ms.
Walker provides a broad range of reviews and references to publications
that address the prevention of injuries to the aged. In her Preface, she
suggests that her goal is:
1
to provide information that could be used to develop an
injury prevention training program curriculum for people
who care for the elderly in long-term care facilities as well as
in the community.
Those who either have extensive contact with the elderly or implement
prophylactic measures to protect them will find this annotated
compilation especially useful.
In chapter 1, General Injury Prevention,2 Walker lists resources that
address broad public health concerns about the elderly. She presents a
comprehensive listing of pamphlets, books, articles, reports, studies and
bibilographic works, arranged alphabetically by author. These detail
economic, epidemiological, medical, legal, public health and other
issues pertaining to the health of seniors. For example, one reference,
The Handbook of Gerontological Nursing,3 offers various methods of
assessing common conditions. It is for clinicians, but other references
will be helpful, e.g., to elder care advocates, counselors, other health
care workers and family members.
In later chapters, Walker organizes according to specific concerns,
e.g, alcohol and substance abuse,4 burns, 5 choking,6 drowning,7 elder
abuse,8 falls, 9 food poisoning1 0 and suicide.11
1 Atxi.
2 At1.
3 At 14.
4 At19.
5 At61.
6 At 77.
7 At 87.
8 At 93.
7 Risk- Health, Safety & Environment 89 [Wmter 1996]
Walker's organization is impressive. Researchers can access
information through her table of contents, subject index or author
index.
Additionally, each chapter briefly introduces and reviews the
specific cause of injury and its particular affect on the elderly. For
instance, in the prelude to a chapter on malnutrition, 12 Walker points
out that it is often not detected in seniors because symptoms are
attributed to the aging process. Following this, selected resources on
sub-topics range from the specifics of salt consumption to the broader
subject of nutritional screening and intervention strategies.
While each of 621 references in the guide is followed by a concise
synopsis, I was disappointed by her lack of explanation for why
particular books and articles were chosen (or not) - and lack of
comment on the strengths and weaknesses of most references.
On the whole, Injury Prevention for the Elderly contains an
impressive compilation of materials useful for both experts and
laypersons. Yet, like a fine dictionary, it is not an engaging read.
David E. Belfortt
9 At 115.
10 At 153.
11 At 259.
12 At 179.
t Mr. Belfort is a candidate for the J.D. at Franklin Pierce Law Center. He holds a
B.A. (Economics) from the Hobart College and has worked for the New York State
Department of Health.


Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press 1995)

UNH Scholars' Repository

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)Volume 7 | Number 1 Article 10January 1996Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention forthe Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press1995)David E. BelfortFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/riskPart of the Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, and the GerontologyCommonsThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the University of New Hampshire – School of Law at University of New HampshireScholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002) by an authorized editor of University ofNew Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact ellen.phillips@law.unh.edu.Repository CitationDavid E. Belfort, Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press 1995), 7 RISK 91(1996).Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A ResearchGuide (Greenwood Press 1995)ErratumThe citation for this review is 7 RISK 89 (1996) in most commercial databases.This book review is available in RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002): https://scholars.unh.edu/risk/vol7/iss1/10Book Reviews 91Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide(Greenwood Press 1995). Acknowledgments, appendices, author index,bibliographical references, foreword, preface, subject index. LC 95-32989; ISSN0743-7560 [328 pp. Cloth $75.00. 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881.]The aging of the baby boom generation and concurrent growth ofthe field of gerontology make this bibliographical resource timely. Ms.Walker provides a broad range of reviews and references to publicationsthat address the prevention of injuries to the aged. In her Preface, shesuggests that her goal is:1to provide information that could be used to develop aninjury prevention training program curriculum for peoplewho care for the elderly in long-term care facilities as well asin the community.Those who either have extensive contact with the elderly or implementprophylactic measures to protect them will find this annotatedcompilation especially useful.In chapter 1, General Injury Prevention,2 Walker lists resources thataddress broad public health concerns about the elderly. She presents acomprehensive listing of pamphlets, books, articles, reports, studies andbibilographic works, arranged alphabetically by author. These detaileconomic, epidemiological, medical, legal, public health and otherissues pertaining to the health of seniors. For example, one reference,The Handbook of Gerontological Nursing,3 offers various methods ofassessing common conditions. It is for clinicians, but other referenceswill be helpful, e.g., to elder care advocates, counselors, other healthcare workers and family members.In later chapters, Walker organizes according to specific concerns,e.g, alcohol and substance abuse,4 burns, 5 choking,6 drowning,7 elderabuse,8 falls, 9 food poisoning1 0 and suicide.111 Atxi.2 At1.3 At 14.4 At19.5 At61.6 At 77.7 At 87.8 At 93.7 Risk- Health, Safety & Environment 89 [Wmter 1996]Walker's organization is impressive. Researchers can accessinformation through her table of contents, subject index or authorindex.Additionally, each chapter briefly introduces and reviews thespecific cause of injury and its particular affect on the elderly. Forinstance, in the prelude to a chapter on malnutrition, 12 Walker pointsout that it is often not detected in seniors because symptoms areattributed to the aging process. Following this, selected resources onsub-topics range from the specifics of salt consumption to the broadersubject of nutritional screening and intervention strategies.While each of 621 references in the guide is followed by a concisesynopsis, I was disappointed by her lack of explanation for whyparticular books and articles were chosen (or not) - and lack ofcomment on the strengths and weaknesses of most references.On the whole, Injury Prevention for the Elderly contains animpressive compilation of materials useful for both experts andlaypersons. Yet, like a fine dictionary, it is not an engaging read.David E. Belfortt9 At 115.10 At 153.11 At 259.12 At 179.t Mr. Belfort is a candidate for the J.D. at Franklin Pierce Law Center. He holds aB.A. (Economics) from the Hobart College and has worked for the New York StateDepartment of Health.

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Review of: Bonnie L. Walker, Injury Prevention for the Elderly- A Research Guide (Greenwood Press 1995)

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