A lively account of life in a decent American nursing home, this book offers an in-depth look at American geriatric facilities. Using six years of anthropological research, Joel Savishinsky analyzes the lives and experiences of residents, staff members, and volunteers. He addresses the contradictory attitudes American society has shown towards geriatric facilities and the aging process itself: the tensions between caring and curing, morality and mortality, privacy and supervision, home and institution, and selfishness and altruism.

Savishinsky portrays the strengths and weaknesses of the nursing home in a humanistic way, emphasizing how the nursing home affects the individuals who live and work there. He also discusses inventive recreation programs, such as pet therapy, suggesting they can alleviate loneliness and provide meaningful opportunities for residents. Savishinsky challenges the stereotypic view of aging and institutional life, concluding that not all nursing homes are warehouses for the dying; he offers several recommendations for improving the quality of life and work in geriatric institutions. This book is presented in nontechnical language and is valuable to the general reader as well as to professionals in health, social science, social work, and gerontology.

This most timely, authoritative, and insightful book provides a new framework for understanding the circumstances currently surrounding America's elderly. It establishes the important foundation of three key forces which are changing the national perspective on the aging. They are: generational claims on the government to respond to social needs; diversity in aging populations; and increasing longevity. Torres-Gil provides a context, supported by informative background material, for recognizing the significant demographic changes being experienced in the United States. The work considers the policy issues, decisions, controversies, and choices now associated with aging and demonstrates how the perception of the elderly has changed from the 1960s and 1970s to today. It asks what is fair in the allocation of public and private resources to the elderly. How does the nation pay for services? How do we make and implement the political and economic decisions with which a government and a society are now faced?

Torres-Gil examines the ability of the government and the active labor force to support a large elderly population and urges a change in the current delivery of services and benefits. He addresses all the essential issues necessary to avoid inter-generational conflict--including comprehensive planning, the building of social consensus, and inter-generational coalitions.

Human Services for Older Adults provides a broad overview of the conditions and context in which today's older adults live, as well as practical information on how to work with them given today's circumstances. Information is provided on the demographic characteristics of older people in America, discussing social, economic, and health problems confronting them and the needs of subgroups among the elderly population such as minority elderly, rural elderly, and older women. The book also provides information on various methods of working with older adults, and social programs available through the government, as well as other sources for meeting the needs of the elderly. The revised edition of a popular text, it is geared toward nurses, social workers, psychologists, gerontologists, counselors, and others who work in senior adult positions and settings.

This volume presents important findings on conflict and abuse in families of the aged. A valuable resource for those in sociology, psychology, gerontology, and social work as well as psychotherapists who work with the aged, the staff of elder abuse programs, adult protective service workers, and legislators. the authors provide a fresh, historically balanced, empirical and theoretical framework for the view that elder abuse and neglect is an extreme manifestation of family conflict.

"Lisa P. Gwyther, Journal of Gernontology"

This volume presents important findings on conflict and abuse in families of the aged. A valuable resource for those in sociology, psychology, gerontology, and social work as well as psychotherapists who work with the aged, the staff of elder abuse programs, adult protective service workers, and legislators.

Presenting clergy and chaplains with unique therapeutic tools for helping senior adults enrich their later years, this book gives advice on how to strengthen relationships, find meaning in life and feel comfortable approaching life's final chapter. It guides clergy and chaplains through how to effectively conduct "Soul Legacy" projects, in which older people reflect on what they want to leave behind for their loved ones and how they want to be remembered after they die. It enables older people to pay loved ones personal tributes and show them how important they are. By focusing on others rather than the self, it provides comfort for loved ones as well as the senior adult, prevents loneliness and negative feelings about ageing, and helps adults gradually become comfortable with the challenges of approaching the end of life.

"Social Work with Older People" provides an authoritative and practical guide to working with older people in a range of settings. It addresses the complexities of individual work with older people, as well as work with families, groups and the wider community, and is not afraid to tackle the challenges as well as opportunities of practice in this area.

The book begins by explaining the demographic changes that have led to a 'greying' of the general population. It goes on to discuss the diversity in experiences of ageing across society, and the range of issues which confront older people and those who wish to work proactively with them. Clear attention is paid to the processes of assessment, care planning and review, with readers encouraged to reflect on developing good practice through case studies and exercises. Although it has a strong practical emphasis, the book also stresses the value of theoretical perspectives, with insights from fields such as sociology and psychology woven throughout the book. Clear links are also made to policy guidelines and organizational standards, without losing sight of the deeper, often more complex, issues that arise when working with older people.

"Social Work with Older People" will be essential reading for social work students and practitioners, but also for others who are interested in the development of practice with older people as citizens and service users.

Proven to enhance wellbeing, posture, breathing and sleep, and reduce anxiety and agitation, this programme shows how yoga can be adapted to benefit people with dementia. Based on the findings of a pilot therapeutic yoga programme for people with dementia in care homes, this book offers substantial yoga sequences, breathing exercises, meditations and mindfulness exercises for improving symptoms associated with dementia. It offers an innovative Reminiscence Yoga approach, which uses sounds, music, guided imagery and familiar actions to stimulate memories. The book demonstrates the many benefits of yoga for people with dementia, and describes the ways that each yoga exercise can be adapted for people of different abilities.

The innovative Newcastle Challenging Behaviour Model for dementia care has recently been updated, leading to new advances in the field. This revised second edition guide to assessment and treatment of behaviours that challenge associated with dementia includes these latest developments along with new sections on what have traditionally been considered controversial topics. The new chapters cover issues including: - End of life care - Use of therapeutic dolls - Lies and deception - Physical restraint during personal care - Racism towards care staff With a particular emphasis on non-pharmacological approaches, this book details the range of behaviours common in individuals with dementia, along with the most effective assessment and treatment techniques for health care professionals.

Namaste Care is a therapeutic approach to caring for those living with advanced dementia, focused on improving their quality of life through a simple, soothing and rewarding process. This step-by-step guide is for anyone looking to translate the principles of the Namaste Care approach successfully and professionally into a home or care setting, with an emphasis on the value of volunteers in the community in implementing this. The Namaste Care approach is focussed on giving comfort and pleasure to people with advanced dementia through sensory stimulation, especially the use of touch, and this book provides extensive guidance on every stage of the process, including harnessing community interest, recruiting and training volunteers, and managing pain and discomfort. In a time of ever-growing strain on healthcare resources, this practical guide is a timely reminder of the power and value of informal care and compassionate communities in helping to care better for people with dementia, and is essential reading for carers, professionals and family members.

In this comprehensive yet accessible guide, Brian Draper, a leading expert on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, describes the symptoms, treatment and management of dementia. Covering everything from assessment and diagnosis to drug and psychosocial treatments, community and residential care options, assistive technology, support for families and other caregivers, ethical and legal considerations, end of life decisions and the latest research and treatment developments, the book provides a complete road map for those supporting someone with dementia, in either a personal or professional capacity. The book will demystify dementia and increase understanding about why it occurs, current treatments and therapies and how it may be managed. Filled with useful information and advice, it will be an invaluable resource for relatives and carers, and a useful reference on the desk of any professional working with individuals with dementia.

Nursing homes provide care to about 1.4 million nursing home residentsaa vulnerable population of elderly and disabled individuals. CMS, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), defines standards nursing homes must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This book reviews the abuse of residents in nursing homes.

Health and social care practitioners are increasingly called upon to provide care to elderly people from a number of different faiths and cultures. This collection of essays examines ageing in the context of the many faiths and cultures that make up Western society, and provides carers with the knowledge they need to deliver sensitive and appropriate care to people of all faiths. Chapters are written by authoritative figures from each of the world's major faith groups about the beliefs and practices of their older people. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist perspectives are covered, as well as those of ageing veterans and ageing religious sisters. Issues of appropriate care are also addressed, and the book includes recommendations for policy and practice. This accessible and inspiring book will be a useful text for academics, policy makers and practitioners in health and social care, aged care workers, pastoral carers, chaplains and religious professionals, in hospital, residential and other care settings.

Elder abuse is a pervasive phenomenon around the world with devastating effects on the victims. Although it is not a new phenomenon, interest in examining elder abuse is relatively new. This book aims to provide an overview of the aetiological theories and measures of elder abuse. The book briefly reviews theories to explain causes of elder abuse and then discusses the most commonly used measures of elder abuse.

Elder abuse -- including neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation, as well as physical and psychological abuse -- affects millions of Americans each year, with widespread health, legal, social and economic implications. With the input of experts and stakeholders from across the country, this book identifies and prioritises actions that direct service providers, educators, and researchers can take to benefit older adults facing abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. Likewise, it provides a roadmap for strategic investment and engagement by policymakers in both the public and private sectors to advance our collective efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse at the local, state and national levels.

Elder abuse is a complex issue that often requires a multifaceted policy response that combines public health interventions, social services programs, and criminal law enforcement for abusive behaviour. To address this complexity, the Elder Justice Act was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The act attempts to provide a coordinated federal response by emphasising various public health and social service approaches to the prevention, detection, and treatment of elder abuse. The Elder Justice Act also represents Congress's first attempt at comprehensive legislation to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly at the federal level. This book provides a brief legislative history of the Elder Justice Act, summarises elder justice provisions enacted as part of ACA, and administrative efforts related to implementation and funding. The book then describes several issues for Congress with respect to the act's reauthorisation.

Long-term services and supports (LTSS) refer to a broad range of health and health-related services and supports that are needed by individuals over an extended period of time. The need for LTSS affects persons of all ages and is generally measured by limitations in an individual's ability to perform daily personal care activities (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, walking) or activities that allow individuals to live independently in the community (e.g., shopping, housework, meal preparation). Most individuals prefer to be cared for in their own homes with the assistance of informal providers such as family members or friends, if available. The most recent published data estimating the number of Americans in need of LTSS indicate that about 10.9 million individuals living in the community need LTSS, or 4.1% of the community-resident population. It was estimated another 1.8 million individuals needing LTSS live in an institutional setting, such as a nursing home. LTSS include a variety of services and supports to assist an individual in maintaining an optimal level of functioning and/or improving his or her quality of life. Examples include a home health aide administering medication, a contractor building a wheelchair ramp onto a home, or a nursing facility where a person resides. LTSS also vary in cost and intensity, depending on the individual's underlying conditions, the severity of his or her disabilities, the setting in which services are provided, and the care-giving arrangement (ie: informal care versus formal care). This book provides an overview of LTSS, including who needs LTSS, how need for LTSS is determined, and how much LTSS costs. The book also provides information on who the primary LTSS payers are, how much they spend, and what types of services are purchased.

Focusing on individual Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities such as Irish, Caribbean, South Asian, Chinese and Jewish, this accessible guide brings together key information on the impact of living with dementia in BAME communities into a single comprehensive resource for front-line staff as well as an information source for families and carers. The book sets out personal case studies and examines how to provide bespoke support and information to raise awareness and lower levels of stigma. With diagnoses among minority communities set to increase, this much-needed handbook is the perfect companion for care home workers, social workers, doctors and nurses who may lack experience in communicating with and caring for people from BAME backgrounds. It is also a valuable resource for family carers and those living with dementia.

A groundbreaking exploration of the sociology of dementia with contributions from distinguished international scholars and practitioners. * Organised around the four themes of personhood, care, social representations and social differentiation * Provides a critical look at dementia and demonstrates how sociology and other disciplines can help us understand its social context as well as the challenges it poses * Contributing authors explore the social terrain, responding in part, to Paul Higgs and Chris Gilleard s highly influential work on ageing * Breaks new ground in giving specific attention to the social and cultural dimensions of responses to dementia

The book outlines a range of non-pharmacological therapies clinicians can adopt in their daily practice and sets out information and advice on each therapy and how to implement them in practice, illustrated with case studies and practical examples and drawing on the author's own clinical work. Many different therapies are discussed including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and farm and ranch therapy. Each has been chosen for its own particular benefits, including early stage dementia and rarer forms, while others can be applied more generally. Tying each therapy together are six key clinical approaches and models of intervention. The core of this is the Nightingale Psycho-Social Model of Support for Someone Living with Dementia. This person-centred approach focuses on the maintenance of meaningful occupation, platonic and intimate relationships, community involvement and maintaining life within normal patterns of behaviour. The new go-to book for clinicians, it is an invaluable tool for anyone looking for a wide variety of dementia therapies.

The dental needs of people living with dementia are often overlooked, particularly in the care home and hospital community. It is challenging to maintain good standards of oral care with people living with dementia, and poor care can increase the fear and anxiety levels of those living with dementia. Very few dentists have the training that equips them with the specialist knowledge necessary to work with this population. This pocket guide sets out tailored advice for supporting the oral and dental needs of people living with dementia. It sets out straightforward models on providing effective preventative mouth care, spotting symptoms and what to do when problems occur. This concise handbook will help any dentists, care home staff, nurses and other health professionals working day to day with people with dementia.

En esta exhaustiva y practica guia, Stella Henry, experta en cuidados a largo plazo, ayuda a los lectores a dominar la abrumadora logistica y las fuertes emociones que provoca el tomar decisiones respecto al cuidado de nuestros mayores, ya sea un padre, una madre o un ser querido. Basandose en sus 36 anos de experiencia como administradora y en el tiempo que paso cuidando a sus dos padres (uno de los cuales padecio los estragos de la enfermedad de Alzheimer), Henry aborda todos los temas dificiles: la deteccion de los sintomas de demencia, la redefinicion de roles entre hermanos, la forma en que se debe examinar una residencia de vida asistida o un hogar de ancianos, la mudanza y los modos de manejar las demandas de "llevame a casa!." Tambien explica los laberintos medicos, legales y de seguros. En estos tiempos en que casi 10 millones de personas en este pais necesitan cuidados a largo plazo, la "Guia para el Cuidado de Nuestros Mayores" es de lectura indispensable.

Illinois is the fifth largest state in the country with 12.4 million people in 2000; the population increased by almost 9% or about one million people in the past decade. About 12% of the state's population is age 65 and older -- 1.5 million people in 2000. By 2025 the Illinois elderly population is expected to increase by over 50% and will be 16.6% of the state's total population. Illinois is one of the few states in the country that provides older persons and younger adults, who meet the eligibility criteria, with state entitlements to home and community-based long-term care services. Both entitlements resulted from court cases that were brought to eliminate waiting lists for services. The state funds the Community Care Program for older adults and the Home Services Program for persons with physical disabilities with a combination of state general revenue funds and Medicaid Section 1915 (c) waiver funds. The Community Care Program uses contracted agencies for the provision of homemaker, adult day care services, and case management services. In contrast, the Home Services Program's relies primarily on personal assistants, whom consumers supervise, to provide services. According to state officials, in 2002 the state had about 3,000 people with developmental disabilities in state-operated development centers (SODCs), 6,500 people in private intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded (ICFs/MR) and 8,800 people in Section 1915 (c) Medicaid home and community-based services waivers for the developmentally disabled.

Oregon is a recognized leader in home and community-based care and has more than 20 years of experience in moving long-term care clients from institutional settings to home and community-based settings. In 2002, 82 per cent of Oregon's Medicaid long-term care clients were served in the community. Additionally, Oregon was the only state in the nation whose spending for institutional care was less than half of the state's total Medicaid long-term care spending in 2000, with only 37.2 per cent spent on institutional care compared to the national average of approximately 70 per cent. Oregon officials recognize that with the aging population and increasing cost, they may need to rethink the design of their current system. They hope to incorporate a concept of 'bounded choice' where a person's wishes are considered within the boundaries of service capacity and fiscal constraints.

This guidebook seeks to inform readers of the best approaches in dealing with nursing homes and nursing home circumstances. Five chapters trace the family through this heart rending experience.