This book provides nurses with practical information on the most frequently encountered gastrointestinal disorders and problems found in the elderly ó from constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis to cancers of the GI tract. It was developed to provide greater depth of information than can be found in general nursing textbooks, and to tailor this information to the special needs of the elderly. Each chapter includes a definition of the condition, followed by its cause, normal and abnormal physiology, nursing care with attention to nursing diagnoses, interventions, medications, and alternative therapies (where appropriate). Health promotion, nutrition, and quality of life issues are included as an essential part of any plan of care for older adults.