As people age, medical conditions will become more complex and the need for health care will seem a routine way of life. Explanations and useful information are also often difficult to find. To help older adults and those who care for them better understand, anticipate and prepare for the changes of aging, MSD Malaysia launched the Merck Manual of Health & Aging in June 2006.

Published as a not-for-profit service to the community, the Merck Manual of Health & Aging was introduced to Malaysians as part of the company's commitment to promote health awareness and medical education. Present at the launch were Associate Professor, Dr Philip Poi, Universiti Malaya's head of division of geriatrics, and Masitah Mohd. Yatim, President of the Gerontological Association of Malaysia.

"MSD has a long commitment to geriatric medicine. The Merck Manual of Health & Aging emphasizes that commitment as we help empower Malaysians approach aging with awareness and knowledge", shared Ewe Kheng Huat, Managing Director, MSD Malaysia.

The launch campaign was supported with advertisements and a contest that ran for two consecutive weeks in a local English daily; with a copy given to the first 150 readers each week.

Written by 150 medical professionals and experts from various fields, the Merck Manual of Health & Aging contains 66 chapters divided into four sections: Fundamentals of Aging, Caring for Self and Others, Medical Conditions, and Social, Legal and Ethical Issues. To lend a human touch to the challenges and triumphs of aging, the book also features 25 essays by every day seniors that share their unique insights on aging.

"Much thought was given to the development of the Manual to make it friendlier to older adults. Chapters are designed in an easy-to-read format with larger font size and is accompanied by reader-friendly tables, graphs and illustrations," Kheng Huat added.

"People seeking to understand how to cope with elderly parents, people who are looking to understand the aging process as they prepare for life post retirement and those already in retirement may find the Merck Manual of Health & Aging a useful reference", said Dr Philip Poi.

"Prevention and intervention programs to address the needs of the elderly need to start as early as those who are in their 40's. Books such as the Merck Manual of Health & Aging provide a glimpse of what's to come to help people prepare wisely," commented Masitah Mohd. Yatim.

While the Merck Manual of Health & Aging is not meant to replace the advice and expertise of geriatrician, it is designed as a source of accurate, reliable information that should stimulate better communication between patients and their healthcare professionals.

The Merck Manual of Health & Aging is the second health reference that has been specifically written for the general public as a not-for-profit service. The other title is The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Second Home Edition, which was introduced in 1997. Additional books which are made available on a not-for-profit basis to provide professionals with useful healthcare information include The Merck Index for chemists, The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy for doctors, and The Merck Veterinary Manual.

The Merck Manual of Health & Aging is available in major bookstores and is priced at RM119.90 for the hardcover version and RM35.90 for the paperback. In keeping with the not-for-profit tradition, the online versions of the Merck Manuals are available free here.