Library Journal
Gale has demonstrated its expertise in data collection once again. This comprehensive compilation of statistics on the state of and mindset of older Americans is formatted like the publisher's award-winning Statistical Record of Black America ( LJ 4/15/91). Drawn from 143 sources, it features over 900 tables, graphs, and charts providing informaton on such topics as population growth, race, geographic area, sex, cohort, life expectancy, mortality, geographic mobility, education levels, health, homelessness, income, safety and crime, pensions, and more. Results of opinion polls of older Americans on a wide variety of topics (e.g., retirement activities preferences, fear of dependency, quality of life expectations, shopping expectations, healthcare delivery and cost, politics, etc.) are also included. The majority of statistics cover the period 1985 to 1991, but, whenever possible, data from the 1990 census are used. A good keyword index and adequate explanation of acronyms and abbreviations are also included. More comprehensive and better organized than Statistical Handbook on Aging Americans ( LJ 2/15/94), this reference would be very helpful to researchers, students, librarians, gerontologists and social scientists, and the general public. See also Gale's Older Americans Information Directory , reviewed above.--Ed.-- Kathy Segrist, Temple Univ., Philadelphia