Through a uniquely multidisciplinary lens, Ethics and Vulnerable Elders: The Quest for Individuals Rights and a Just Society employs a highly principled approach to ethics and addresses current issues affecting vulnerable older adults. The book illuminates the current and future challenges facing older adult populations and provides effective frameworks for their resolution. The text features 19 chapters written by experts, which are then divided into four sections. The opening chapter introduces the framework for the book and addresses key concepts in ethics. Each of the four sections that follow addresses a particular category of vulnerability, namely compromised health, effective status, care arrangement, and abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Specific topics include cognitive impairment, physical disability, gender, sexual orientation, residential long-term care, self-neglect, correctional settings, victimization, and more. Each chapter includes a summary; case study; discussion of applicable principles of ethics, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice; resources for follow-up; and questions for further consideration. Ethics and Vulnerable Elders is an ideal resource for law school and graduate school programs with focus on gerontology, disability, social work, public health, elder and family law, and health care management.

Social Theories of Aging: A Brief Synopsis introduces students to a broad spectrum of social theories on aging. Each theory is categorized as first, second, or third generation according to three theoretical levels: micro-level (individual aging theories), macro-level (societal aging theories), and micro-macro-level (emerging theories). The book provides students not only with a synopsis of key theories but with the agency to create their own knowledge and search for answers within the gerontology discipline. Over the course of six chapters, students explore a variety of generational theories. Each overview presents a theory's level, intellectual origins, and basic tenets. The theories span many fields and subfields of gerontology including social gerontology, sociology, anthropology, public administration, psychology, social work, and geriatrics. Activity Theory, Disengagement Theory, Modernization Theory, Continuity Theory, Exchange Theory, Age Stratification, Social Constructionist, and Transformative Learning Theory are just a few of the theories addressed in the text. Highly accessible and concise in nature, Social Theories of Aging is an ideal textbook for introductory gerontology courses. It can also be used in graduate level courses to remind students of the theoretical underpinnings of gerontology.

Effective communication is critical for everyone, and this insightful book teaches the skills needed by healthcare staff in their day-to-day interactions with people with dementia and their families. Often when people with dementia exhibit behaviour that challenges, it is an indication that their needs are not being met. The authors illustrate the key aspects of communication for the development of a skilled and confident workforce, capable of providing thoroughly effective care that reduces levels of agitation in people with dementia. The first six chapters describe the CAIT (Communication and Interaction Training) framework established by the authors. This is followed by chapters contributed by experts on the Positive Care Approach (TM), appropriate touch and communication with people in the late stages of dementia. Accessible and practical, it will help caregivers develop and articulate existing skills as well as gain new ones, allowing them to overcome the challenges faced when caring for people with dementia.

This book is about caring for elderly persons in the 21th century. It shows that care has many facets and is influenced by many factors. Central topics of this book thus include the relation between the person depending on care and the care giver(s), the impacts of caregiving on the family and the larger social context, as well as socio-cultural and political aspects underlying the growing need for and the practice of formal and informal care. It is evident that care as a real-life phenomenon of our time needs the co-operation ofmultiple disciplines to better understand, describe, explain and modify phenomena of elder care. Such a need for crossdisciplinary research is even more urgent given the increasing population aging and the impending gaps between demand and supply of care. The present book is dedicated to this approach and provides a first substantive integration of knowledge from geropsychology, other gerosciences, and cultural psychologies by a multi-disciplinary cast of internationally renowned authors. Cultural psychology emerged as a valuable partner of the gerosciences by contributing essentially to a deeper understanding of the relevant issues. Reading of this book provides the reader-researcher or practitioner-with new insights of where the problems of advancing age take our caring tasks in our 21st century societies and it opens many new directions for further work in the field. Finally and above all, this book is also a strong plea for solidarity between generations in family and society in a rapidly changing globalized world.

Written by key researchers and practitioners in the field, this book presents an overview of gerontology appropriate for graduate and advanced undergraduate students. It includes seminal chapters on theory, methodology, physiological processes, health, culture, dying and bereavement, cognitive processes and intellectual abilities, personality, assessment, clinical issues and competency, caregiving, and public policy issues. Each chapter includes review questions and a list of additional reference sources.

The author has specialised in working with adult abuse and the manual is set out in the way she recommends that training be presented. There are chapters on older people, black and minority ethnic people and younger adults, as well as on investigations and case conferences.' - Nursing Standard 'Working with Elder Abuse is a forthright and detailed training manual - the manual is a blend of theory, exercises, and further readings and it is anticipated that it will be used by staff trainers providing formal training as well as by supervisors who will work through it with their staff teams. The manual is clearly written, practical and realistic without being condescending. It clearly benefits from being written by someone who is herself a full time staff trainer on elder abuse and has tested and honed the suggested training materials through frequent use. The emphasis on experiential learning, drawing upon the experience of the training participants and exploring attitudes as well as knowledge is evident. This approach allows the potential user to feel comfortable with replicating the training modules and adpating them to fit other situations and content... Working with Elder Abuse is an excellent training guide. The care that has been taken in detailing all training steps, without burying the reader/trainee in duplicative content, makes one eager to utilize the manual immediately. This manual belongs on every trainer's shelf. It can be used equally well both as a self-training guide and to train large groups, and offers much that can be adapted for use with other content areas.' - Journal of Teaching in Social Work 'This book achieves its stated aim. As a manual for use in training, it provides a wealth of well presented material that may be used by trainers who have a background knowledge in the field. The material is presented in a logical and user friendly way. It can be recommended to those who have to raise awareness of this issue among the staff groups in the title.' - Registered Homes 'Pritchard (a well known and highly regarded contributor to the field) draws on her experience as a trainer to facilitate the empowerment of so called unqualified staff in confronting their own feelings when facing `victims and abusers'... Of all writers on elder abuse, she is grounded in practicability, underpinned by a clear grasp of the training needs of front-line staff. This handbook successfully integrates theory and exercises and should be on the shelves of all trainers. It will be indispensable for staff groups.' - Community Care 'This book pulls no punches. It discusses sensitive issues, such as sexual abuse, frankly in everyday language and is essential reading for managers and assistants about abuse. NVQ students will find it useful and NVQ assessment centres would be well advised to buy copies.' - Nursing Times 'A welcome addition to the available texts on elder abuse. Working with Elder Abuse by Jacki Pritchard is beautifully presented and easily accessible - large well spaced print, eye-catching headings, and interesting symbols signalling training tools such as handouts. The language is clear and fluid.' - Action on Elder Abuse Bulletin 'The language is clear and definitions and exercises are easy to understand. The text is well laid out, and there is a lack of jargon -This will be a very helpful book for all who are concerned about elder abuse and should contribute towards the reduction of such abuse in the future as well as giving confidence to trainers, managers, care staff and all who are involved in care of the elderly.' - Christian Council on Ageing 'Jacki Pritchard has produced a valuable addition to the training literature... For the beginner, this book is highly recommended.' - Baseline `The training manual is long overdue. The A4 format of the book and the permission to photocopy certain pages as handouts is very welcome... Residential and day-care issues are well covered with plenty of exercises... The straightforward language and the way that practical issues are addressed is effective... The manual is an excellent resource which managers, supervisors and trainers will find invaluable.' - Ageing and Society This practical training manual is written for home care, residential and day care staff, who need to be able to recognise elder abuse, but may not be trained to do so. Its large format, range of exercises and photocopiable worksheets makes it a valuable source of training material not only for training teams, but also for managers who train staff and teams on site. Each chapter contains exercises, a reading list and a simple discussion of the theory behind each of the key areas covered by the manual. These include: defining elder abuse recognizing elder abuse what to do when working with elder abuse case conferences long term work with victims and abusers abuse in institutions issues for managers case studies

This new edited volume seeks to meet the growing need for ways to support people with dementia across the whole course and trajectory of dementia care, with a wide scope of expertise. The book addresses how practitioners and carers can apply psychosocial interventions - which take into consideration the individual, social and environmental aspects of a person's life - across this trajectory, right from the earliest stages through to practice in care home settings. Divided into four sections, each covers a different context in which people with dementia can be supported: at home; in community settings; family and carer support; and those in care homes and hospitals. In addition, there is a distinct focus throughout on evidence-based practice and its implementation in real-world settings. This book is essential reading for any practitioner and caregiver wanting to support people with dementia.

At Wit's End is a straightforward summary of leading advice for caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, written without technical jargon and impractical nuance. About 33 percent of the population eventually will provide care for someone with Alzheimer's. The strain of caring for a loved one with this disease can be enormous, yet the reward of enhancing a loved one's quality of life is beyond measure. So, where to begin? Many books delve into other specific areas of Alzheimer's care, emphasizing the financial and legal challenges, as well as myriad medical treatment needs of those experiencing the disease. Unique among these offerings, At Wit's End explains the psychiatric and psychological aspects of Alzheimer's, and does so in a holistic and practical manner. Kraus focuses on the whole person across his or her full social, psychological, physical, and spiritual life to provide as complete a picture as possible of the changes that are in play. With this broad, thoughtful, and grounded approach, family members, clincians, and caregivers are better able to discover and make wise choices from a wealth of effective interventions in all areas of care. It also allows them to care for themselves and their families in the dynamic, supportive care process. Find out how Alzheimer's can be distinguished from normal aging and other diseases that mimic its symptoms; how the disorder affects changes in functional abilities and how the daily competence of a person with Alzheimer's is viewed by psychiatric and legal communities; how rational thinking is distorted, leading to a wide array of unusual and often uncharacteristic behaviors like agitation, impatience, wandering, and inappropriate expressions of sexuality; and what medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatments are available to help. At Wit's End gives families, clinicians, and caregivers a new outlook on Alzheimer's disease.

The elderly, the frailaareaour society. They are our parents and grandparents, our carers and neighbours, and they are every one of us in the not-too-distant futurea...They are not a growing cost to be managed or a burden to be shifted or a horror to be hidden away, but people whose needs require us to change' In Dear Life, using vivid and moving case studies, Karen Hitchcock show what care for the elderly and dying is really like u both the good and the bad. With honesty and deep experience, she looks at end-of-life decisions and over-treatment, frailty and dementia. Throughout she argues against the creeping tendency to see the elderly as a 'burden' u difficult, hopeless, expensive and homogenous. We must plan for a future when more of us will be old, Hitchcock argues, with the aim of making that time better, not shorter. An we must change our institution and society to meet the needs of an ageing population. Dear Life is a landmark book by one of Australia's most powerful writers.

High employee turnover is one of the greatest challenges facing long-term care communities today. Without consistent staffing, programs and their residents greatly suffer the negative consequences of inadequate resident care, unnecessary expenses, and inefficient operations. To curb this trend of low employee retention, this useful guide will help long-term care administrators develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program for all levels of staff. By providing new employees with proper training from the moment they step in the door, long-term care communities and other programs can ensure that they are nurturing skilled caregivers who are dedicated to their organization and their residents for the long haul. Using a person-centered focus, this guide outlines all of the necessary steps in creating an orientation program that works. Starting with establishing the long-term care organization's needs, the guide then goes on to explain what pertinent information to include, how, when, and where to present it, and how to develop a schedule and timeframe for training. The guide also stresses the importance of creating a mentorship program between new and existing employees and provides valuable insight on how to develop and sustain such a program. Other important topics include testing skills in new employees, administering evaluations, building relationships, defining the community's culture, and keeping the focus on the residents. Over the course of 12 chapters, this guide shows leaders that effective orientation program lasts far beyond the first day. By creating and implementing a thorough, person-centered orientation and training program, facilities will not only foster the growth of their newest employees but also give them the skills, knowledge, confidence, and support to successfully adapt to a new workplace. This comfort and confidence easily translates into the delivery of the highest quality of care to residents and a lasting dedication to one's organization. Notable features include: Downloadable sample forms that can be used as a guide! Chapter review at the end of each chapter with a bulleted list of key points. Includes blank lines so the reader can make notes A focus on extending a setting's person-centered approach to encompass its employees, too, taking a novel approach to making employees feel well-trained and supported in a new work environment 2016 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Awards (2nd place, Gerontological Nursing) 2016 National Health Information Awards (Merit Award Winner - in Other/Miscellaneous Health Information, Media/Publishing Division)

In this moving and controversial Quarterly Essay, doctor and writer Karen Hitchcock investigates the treatment of the elderly and dying through some unforgettable cases. With honesty and deep experience, she looks at end-of-life decisions, frailty and dementia, over-treatment and escalating costs. Ours is a society in which ageism, often disguised, threatens to turn the elderly into a 'burden' - difficult, hopeless, expensive and homogenous. While we rightly seek to curb treatment when it is futile, harmful or against a patient's wishes, this can sometimes lead to limits on care that suit the system rather than the person. Doctors may declare a situation hopeless when it may not be so. We must plan for a future when more of us will be old, Hitchcock argues, with the aim of making that time better, not shorter. And we must change our institutions and society to meet the needs of an ageing population. Dear Life is a landmark essay by one of Australia's most powerful writers. 'The elderly, the frail are our society. They are our parents and grandparents, our carers and neighbours, and they are every one of us in the not-too-distant future ...They are not a growing cost to be managed or a burden to be shifted or a horror to be hidden away, but people whose needs require us to change . ..' Karen Hitchcock, Dear Life

How do you choose a care home for a relative or friend? The care home may look perfect in the brochure, but is that a true reflection of what it's like to live there? Can the manager's claims be trusted? Written by an insider who's worked in care for sixteen years, this book will show you how to tell if all is really as it seems. Are the home's residents looked upon as people, or just as money generators? Will your mum be allowed something to drink in the evening, or will she be left thirsty just so that she won't need the lavatory in the night? This is a book for anyone with a relative or friend in residential care. It's also a book for current and future residents and the carers who look after them. 'Behind those care home doors' will show you what to really look for in a care home and how to check the standards of care provided and what to do if things go wrong. The author describes her front line experiences of abusive behaviours and harrowing standards of care, often from senior staff. She questions why carers who have the most contact with patients are frequently ignored when they raise concerns. Typical care home fees are equal to a staying in a good hotel with a private nurse and yet many homes are cutting staff to inappropriate levels. The author describes working in a care home with fees in excess of GBP900 per week and a menu promising smoked mackerel pate, homemade crusty bread and salad while the staff were obliged to serve muffin and chips, fish fingers and spaghetti hoops, out of date food, and mean portions. If you're contemplating working in a care home 'Behind those care home doors' will give you an insight and help you to decide whether care is the right career for you physically and emotionally. This book would also make valuable reading for care home managers and owners who may be finding the day to day pressures within their organisation are leading to decisions they know to be wrong.

In 2011, seven thousand American "baby boomers" (those born between 1946 and 1964) turned sixty-five daily. As this largest U.S. generation ages, cities, municipalities, and governments at every level must grapple with the allocation of resources and funding for maintaining the quality of life, health, and standard of living for an aging population.
In "The New Neighborhood Senior Center," Joyce Weil uses in-depth ethnographic methods to examine a working-class senior center in Queens, New York. She explores the ways in which social structure directly affects the lives of older Americans and traces the role of political, social, and economic institutions and neighborhood processes in the decision to close such centers throughout the city of New York.
Many policy makers and gerontologists advocate a concept of "aging in place," whereby the communities in which these older residents live provide access to resources that foster and maintain their independence. But all "aging in place" is not equal and the success of such efforts depends heavily upon the social class and availability of resources in any given community. Senior centers, expanded in part by funding from federal programs in the 1970s, were designed as focal points in the provision of community-based services. However, for the first wave of "boomers," the role of these centers has come to be questioned.
Declining government support has led to the closings of many centers, even as the remaining centers are beginning to "rebrand" to attract the boomer generation. However, "The New Neighborhood Senior Center"demonstrates the need to balance what the boomers' want from centers with the needs of frailer or more vulnerable elders who rely on the services of senior centers on a daily basis. Weil challenges readers to consider what changes in social policies are needed to support or supplement senior centers and the functions they serve.

Even in the later stages of the disease, when memory, words and relationships are affected, it is possible for people with dementia to express emotions, imagination, humour, sensitivities and personal preferences. This book demonstrates the many ways in which puppetry and associated art forms such as singing and story-telling can be used in a person-centred way to create opportunities for these human responses to emerge. The author describes different scenarios in which puppetry can help facilitate connections, including in response to changes in relationships, communicating when words fail and in times of distress or conflict. She explains how puppets can be used to stimulate memories, celebrate life achievements and promote self-esteem and confidence, as well as with those nearing the end of life as part of palliative care. Strategies for introducing puppetry and other forms of creative stimulation into daily care are suggested, and real examples are used to illustrate how creativity may benefit the person with dementia beyond the immediate session. Step-by-step instructions for making a variety of puppets are also included. This thought-provoking book will be a source of inspiration and practical ideas for care staff and activity coordinators, creative arts therapists, occupational therapists, puppeteers and other artists working in care settings, as well as relatives of people with dementia looking for new ways to connect with their loved ones.