The American Geriatrics Society - News

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005

For Further Information
Erin Weller
(212) 308-1414 x329

American Geriatrics Society's Acclaimed 2005 Edition of Geriatrics at Your Fingertips Now Available, At No Cost, for Personal Digital Assistants

New York, NY- The American Geriatrics Society's acclaimed guide to the health care needs of older adults, Geriatrics at Your Fingertips (GAYF), 2005 edition, is now available in a free electronic version for Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

The new PDA version of the 2005 edition of GAYF includes several highly-interactive features that enhance the guide's utility:

a bookmark feature that allows users to quickly locate the references they use most frequently
a "Jump To" navigation button that lets users quickly view all the subheadings under a particular topic and go directly to the specific information they're seeking
over 20 new working calculators and equations
a new "Help" button that provides a guide to using the PDA version, and contact information for technical support

The free distribution of GAYF for handhelds-which is available for Palm OS and Windows CE devices-is supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation. To download this free software, visit www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org.

With over 25,000 copies of the pocket-sized print edition sold in 2004 alone, GAYF is an indispensable resource for those who care for older adults. It covers assessment instruments, recommended diagnostic tests, management strategies, and both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies recommended specifically for older adults. "Every prescriber and practitioner caring for older persons will find this book a boon companion," David O. Staats, MD, wrote in a review of GAYF for Doody's Electronic Journal. An online version is also available at www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org.

"This is a highly functional geriatrics tool," AGS President David Reuben, MD, lead author of GAYF, said of the new PDA version. "Busy care providers who increasingly rely on PDAs in their professional lives now have the added convenience of being able access GAYF with the click of a button."

For more information, visit the GAYF Web site at www.geriatricsatyourfingertips.org

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The society supports this mission through activities in: clinical practice; professional education on the clinical care of older people; research; public education and information; public policy efforts; and through collaborative relationships with other organizations. For more information about AGS programs and initiatives, visit the AGS Web site at www.americangeriatrics.org.