One of the most pressing questions facing society today is how to care for its burgeoning elderly population. By the year 2050, experts predict that one-third of the world's population will be over 60 years old. Health promotion for the elderly is therefore becoming an increasingly important topic in public policy and planning. This book examines the challenges presented by an ageing global population, our varying expectations of healthy ageing, and the importance of exercise and physical activity for the elderly. Drawing on empirical research from around the world, it considers the factors that influence health and well-being in later life and compares practices and policies designed to promote healthy ageing. It presents case studies from 15 countries spanning Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia, and sheds light on how attitudes to physical activity differ across nations, regions and cultures. Ageing, Physical Activity and Health: International Perspectives is important reading for all students, researchers and practitioners with an interest in physical activity, public health, exercise science or gerontology.

People with mid-stage dementia are served by special care units in long-term care facilities, although as these residents deteriorate, they are transferred out of the unit and into a general nursing home unit. These nursing homes are not equipped to deal with palliative needs of end-stage dementia care. The book addresses those needs. With this in mind, Part One examines the stages of dementia (end-stage in particular). Other chapters in this section provide background on the hospice movement and hospice concepts; the idea of maintaining personhood; and administration of a late-stage care unit. Part Two focuses on treatment approaches for common needs in end-stage dementia - medical and physical care; a supportive environment; the fundamentals of care; psychopharmacology; and therapeutic activities. Part 3 contains chapters on family-centred care; legal and ethical issues; programme evaluation; and future opportunities.

Contents:
Part 1 Foundations and options for programme development: stages of dementia - an overview; palliative care for late-stage dementia; maintaining personhood - philosophy, goals, programme development and staff education; administration of a late-stage dementia programme in the nursing home setting. Part 2 Treatment approaches for common needs: medical care during late-stage dementia; treatment approaches to common physical care needs; strategies for eating, swallowing and dysphagia; a supportive environment for people with late-stage dementia; communications and fundamentals of care - bathing, grooming and dressing; behaviours associated with late-stage dementia; psychopharmacology and late-stage dementia behaviours; therapeutic activities for low- functioning older adults with dementia. Part 3 Special issues in care: working with the family; making change work - understanding concepts and strategies; legal and ethical issues; programme evaluation; future challenges and considerations.

An activity book to help caregivers improve the quality of life of people who have dementia. Whether they are cared for at home or in an assisted living community, adults living with dementia should be offered a life that is interesting and fun. But what can you do to enhance the everyday experience of a loved one who is losing interest in or is unable to participate in their old hobbies and pursuits? In Creative Engagement, dementia activity expert Rachael Wonderlin and developmental psychology professor Geri M. Lotze provide dozens of creative, hands-on ways to engage with people living with cognitive loss. Teaching caregivers how to find dementia-friendly daily activities and introduce them into a person's life, this comprehensive, empathetic guide is aimed at both family members and professionals. Twelve chapters full of useful, tangible activities touch on a range of topics, including exercise, technology, cooking and baking, memory games, and arts and crafts. Focusing on both group and individual dynamics, mundane activities and specially tailored pursuits, Wonderlin and Lotze offer proven strategies for interacting with people living with dementia. The authors include detailed tips for building a dementia-friendly environment, creating a daily calendar, and scheduling community entertainment. They also suggest special activities geared toward people in hospice care and give targeted advice for dealing with caregiver stress. Drawing on Wonderlin's own practice while incorporating the latest scientific research on dementia and eldercare, Creative Engagement is unique in its dementia-positive approach. Anyone who cares for someone living with dementia will gain valuable knowledge from this compassionate book.

A practical approach for professionals working with people suffering from dementias, this book focuses on dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, from a multi-cultural perspective.

For caregivers of deeply forgetful people: a book that combines new ethics guidelines with an innovative program on how to communicate and connect with people with Alzheimer's. How do we approach a "deeply forgetful" loved one so as to notice and affirm their continuing self-identity? For three decades, Stephen G. Post has worked around the world encouraging caregivers to become more aware of-and find renewed hope in-surprising expressions of selfhood despite the challenges of cognitive decline. In this book, Post offers new perspectives on the worth and dignity of people with Alzheimer's and related disorders despite the negative influence of "hypercognitive" values that place an ethically unacceptable emphasis on human dignity as based on linear rationality and strength of memory. This bias, Post argues, is responsible for the abusive exclusion of this population from our shared humanity. With vignettes and narratives, he argues for a deeper dignity grounded in consciousness, emotional presence, creativity, interdependence, music, and a self that is not "gone" but "differently abled." Post covers key practical topics such as: * understanding the experience of dementia * noticing subtle expressions of continuing selfhood, including "paradoxical lucidity" * perspectives on ethical quandaries from diagnosis to terminal care and everything in between, as gleaned from the voices of caregivers * how to communicate optimally and use language effectively * the value of art, poetry, symbols, personalized music, and nature in revealing self-identity * the value of trained "dementia companion" dogs At a time when medical advances to cure these conditions are still out of reach and the most recent drugs have shown limited effectiveness, Post argues that focusing discussion and resources on the relational dignity of these individuals and the respite needs of their caregivers is vital. Grounding ethics on the equal worth of all conscious human beings, he provides a cautionary perspective on preemptive assisted suicide based on cases that he has witnessed. He affirms vulnerability and interdependence as the core of the human condition and celebrates caregivers as advocates seeking social and economic justice in an American system where they and their loved ones receive only leftover scraps. Racially inclusive and grounded in diversity, Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People also includes a workshop appendix focused on communication and connection, "A Caregiver Resilience Program," by Rev. Dr. Jade C. Angelica.

While elder abuse is a topic that has been widely explored, elder self-neglect is a subject that has not really been defined, much less discussed at any length. This volume is the first comprehensive work on the prevalent geriatric problem of self-neglect. It contains original clinical research and analyzes the medical, psychological, and social aspects of geriatric self-neglect from various perspectives of professionals within the geriatric field.

This volume opens with an overview of elder self-neglect, including a general framework that describes exactly what is involved with this clinical problem. The authors then explore the broad societal implications of self-neglect before going on to examine special risks and subgroups that are associated with this dilemma. The final chapter investigates areas of research likely to enhance further understanding of this problem. Social workers, nurses and geriatric professionals who are concerned with this threat to our elderly will find this volume to be a valuable resource that provides an interdisciplinary perspective on health and social services.

Most of the people receiving physiotherapy are middle-aged or older, thus it is important for all physiotherapists to acquire the knowledge and skills particular to working with older people. The role of the physiotherapist is not restricted to reducing disability, but also encompasses the promotion of positive health, and Barrie Pickles and colleagues have taken the innovative approach of combining both of these aspects in this research-based, comprehensive textbook. Written by an international team of experts, the text is divided into the following sections: Background to Aging The Aging Process Working with Older People Management of Impairments and Disabilities Handicaps of Aging Integrated Case Management Future Directions Within these broad areas, the authors provide a thorough and readable introduction to the many complex and challenging issues that form part of or influence health care and health education for the older adult, including: Posture and gait Communication Motor learning Health promotion programs Specific clinical problems, such as pain, stroke and incontinence The book is written from a global perspective, the link between theory and practice is made both within each individual chapter and by means of helpful case studies. Students will find this attractively presented text a stimulating introduction to the theoretical background and principles of physiotherapy, practice older people.Multiauthored by an international team of experts Includes normal psychological and physiological changes with ageDiscusses strategies for accurate assessment, and reasoned delivery of care Covers working with healthy, ill and disabled people in a variety of settings

Increasingly, scholars from many disciplines have begun to incorporate various modalities from the humanities and arts - novels, films, artwork, and other forms of expression - to help connect students with the experience of aging in deeply meaningful and person-centered ways. This collection examines how these approaches are incorporated into gerontology and geriatrics education. Rather than focusing solely on measurable outcomes, such as changes in learning over time - which is the purview of empirical pedagogy - chapters focus on strategies for successfully incorporating a specific work into the classroom, descriptions of humanities and/or arts exercises with students or older adults, and other ways that explore how the humanities and arts can be applied successfully and meaningfully in educational settings. This book was originally published as a special issue of Geronotology & Geriatrics Education.

Sparking controversy in medical, social and professional circles, the nation's most respected medical ethicist strikes at the heart of America's growing health care crisis--the care of the aged. The New York Times Book Review calls Setting Limits "A pivotal work . . . the benchmark for future moral, medical and policy discussions of aging".

In this timely and important work, expert gerontologists review what has been learned about the aged and the process of aging and link this knowledge to interventions for improving the quality of life.

This volume highlights the development of preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions designed to assist older people maintain their independence and quality of life. In addition to the editors, chapter authors include Robert N. Butler, Matilda White Riley, Carroll Estes, and a foreword by James O. Mason.

Approved by the Dietary Managers Association for 9 CEUs through September 1998 Here is a useful guide that helps both administrators and food service workers understand the daily functions of their dietary departments. Dietetic Service Operation Handbook enhances extended caregivers'knowledge of basic food service and clinical dietetics operations and serves as a functional tool they can use to initiate effective organization of dietetic services. It explains proper techniques and tips for everything from how to plan a menu and care for equipment to special adaptive eating devices and modifying texture for swallowing disorders. Packed with general and specific guidelines, this book also teaches food service employees how to allocate time more wisely, making them effective members of the interdisciplinary medical team--and saving their facility time and money as well. Administrators who wish to understand the functions of their dietary department so they can communicate more effectively with its staff will find this book a most useful resource, full of meaningful interpretations of routine tasks found in the daily operation of a food service.The author, registered with the American Dietetic Association, has prioritized the topics in the book to assist the systematic organization of any dietary department. Chapters cover both administrative and clinical topics, including food purchasing and production, the policy and procedure manual, quality assurance, current trends in geriatric nutrition, the effects of medicine on diet, enteral feeding, and documentation of the medical record. Dietetic Service Operation Handbook includes a wide variety of standardized recipes for the pureed diet, a resource list, handy calculations, and many useful forms for record-keeping which are compatible with OBRA laws. Beginning dietitians and dietary managers will find this book to be an extremely helpful and practical guide in their day-to-day work. Beginning or expert administrators and nursing directors will discover it improves their understanding of and communication with their food service operations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) are commonly viewed as the first and second most common types of dementia, respectively. The traditional paradigm has been to view and treat each illness as a separate entity with a separate pathophysiology. However, clinical and pathological studies suggest that the boundary separating AD and VaD, as well as their mild cognitive impairment (MCI) analogs, is not well defined. Thus, there is increased interest in viewing these diseases along a spectrum because of the significant overlap in the characterization and diagnosis of AD, VaD, and MCI. The focus of this edited volume is to examine how AD and VaD, as well as their MCI analogs, are best viewed as a heterogeneous, intersecting, if not a continuous disease state rather than separate, distinct entities. This book examines this approach by providing empirically based evidence, reviews of the literature, and chapters by key leaders in the field and will be of interest to clinical neuropsychologists and anyone studying or treating dementia in its many forms.

Our health, our income and our social networks at older ages are the consequence of what has happened to us over the course of our lives. The situation at age 50+ reflects our own decisions as well as many environmental factors, especially interventions by the welfare state. This book explores the richness of 28,000 life histories in thirteen European countries, collected as part of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Combining these data with a comprehensive account of European welfare state interventions provides a unique opportunity to answer the important public policy questions of our time how the welfare state affects people 's incomes, housing, families, retirement, volunteering and health. The overarching theme of the welfare state creates a book of genuinely interdisciplinary analyses, a valuable resource for economists, gerontologists, historians, political scientists, public health analysts, and sociologists alike.

The decision making process that underlies ovarian hormone therapy (HT) is fallible. Thus, the decision for women to go on HT remains controversial. At a time when confusion still permeates the decision making with regard to HT, this book bridges diverse features that surround the decision making concerning HT. The book is written for both specialists and generalists in the field.

Focusing on the need for developing new service delivery models for the aged, Health Care of the Aged examines fiscal, political, and social criteria influencing this challenge of the 1990s. The aged are caught in the sweeping changes currently occuring in the financing, organizing, and delivery of human and health care services. From various perspectives, this new book will help shape the direction for elderly health care program development and implementation. With an emphasis on greater long-term care in either home, community, or institutional settings, this important book will increase the understanding for a comprehensive, effective policy designed to carry the growing number of elderly through this decade and into the next. As roles and issues change, this valuable book will become increasingly important to those involved in providing services and care to the elderly. Health care administrators, policymakers, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and caregivers will benefit from the expertise presented in Health Care of the Aged.

Addressing the early clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, this book was written to evaluate the relevance of current research on the subject. It uncovers the present lack of clinical utility in research methodologies such as neuro-imaging, drug challenges, electro-encephalographic studies and brain biopsy. The essays addressing each of these issues will provide the reader with a perspective on the role of each technology in clinical practice and an in-depth introduction to the technologies and research findings in each of the areas reviewed.

Long-term care in the United States has taken the nursing home as its benchmark, but the monetary, social, and psychological costs of nursing home care are all too high. This book challenges the current dominance of nursing homes as the principal institution of long-term care. It offers a series of alternative models where both services and housing can be provided in a way that allows long-term consumers to enjoy dignified, "normal" lifestyles.

The authors start with the premise that long-term care is designed to assist people who lack the capacity to function fully independently. In addition, the authors argue, no disabled person of any age should be required to forsake his/her humanity in exchange for care. The book rejects the artificial dichotomy between social and medical care, asserting that both play important roles in the psychological and physical well-being of long-term care patients. The book considers the need for competent and compassionate medicine and discusses the methods for improving both its coordination of care and its effectiveness. The book redefines the meaning of safety and protection in long-term care, and how this goal can be accomplished without sacrificing quality of living.

As the new millennium and the aging of baby boomers approaches, more creative approaches to providing better long-term care are required. This volume outlines a useful framework for the provision of effective and humane community-based programs that are both feasible and affordable. The Heart of Long-Term Care is intended for geriatricians, public health professionals, family physicians, and nurses who care for elderly patients.

An indispensable, comprehensive reference for family caregivers. Caregivers hold the key to the health, well-being, and happiness of their aging relatives, partners, or friends. The Caregiver's Encyclopedia provides you with all of the information you need to take the best care of your loved one-from making major medical decisions to making sure you don't burn out. Written by Muriel R. Gillick, MD, a geriatrician with more than 30 years' experience caring for older people, this book highlights the importance of understanding your friend's or family member's overall health. With compassion and expertise, this book will help you "think like a doctor." The content * helps you navigate the health-care system * shares important information about treating basic geriatric syndromes, including delirium, dementia, and falls * teaches you about preventive care options * enables you to manage medical decisions related to both acute and chronic conditions * discusses what Medicare covers-and what it doesn't * guides you through different approaches to care * weighs the risks and benefits of hospital vs. home, nursing home, or hospice care * provides a detailed list of medical supplies that you might want to keep on hand * offers you additional resources and emotional support Throughout, Gillick provides helpful information and concrete concepts that caregivers can put into practice today. Authoritative, comprehensive, holistic, and highly illustrated, The Caregiver's Encyclopedia will help you figure out how to be the best caregiver you can be.

Practical, essential advice about making tough decisions for people with end-stage dementia. Each year, more than 500,000 people are diagnosed with dementia in the United States. As stunning as that figure is, countless family members and caregivers are also affected by each diagnosis. Families are faced with the need to make vital end-of-life decisions about medical treatment, legal and financial matters, and living situations for those who no longer can; no one is prepared for this process. And many caregivers grapple with sadness, confusion, guilt, anger, and physical and mental exhaustion as dementia enters its final stage. In Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia, Dr. Anne Kenny, a skilled palliative care physician, describes how to navigate the difficult journey of late-stage dementia with sensitivity, compassion, and common sense. Combining her personal experience caring for a mother with dementia with her medical expertise in both dementia and end-of-life care, Dr. Kenny helps the reader prepare for a family member's death while managing their own emotional health. Drawing on stories of families that Dr. Kenny has worked with to illustrate common issues, concerns, and situations that occurs in late-stage dementia, this book includes practical advice about * making life-altering decisions while preparing for a loved one's inevitable death * medical care, pain, insomnia, medication, and eating * caring for the caregiver * having conversations about difficult topics with other family members and with health care, legal, and financial professionals Concrete to-do lists and lists of important points provide information at a glance for busy caregivers. Each chapter concludes with a list of additional resources for more information and help. Making Tough Decisions about End-of-Life Care in Dementia is a lifeline, an invaluable guide to assist in the late stage of dementia.

This open access book outlines the challenges of supporting the health and wellbeing of older adults around the world and offers examples of solutions designed by stakeholders, healthcare providers, and public, private and nonprofit organizations in the United States. The solutions presented address challenges including: providing person-centered long-term care, making palliative care accessible in all healthcare settings and the home, enabling aging-in-place, financing long-term care, improving care coordination and access to care, delivering hospital-level and emergency care in the home and retirement community settings, merging health and social care, supporting people living with dementia and their caregivers, creating communities and employment opportunities that are accessible and welcoming to those of all ages and abilities, and combating the stigma of aging. The innovative programs of support and care in Aging Well serve as models of excellence that, when put into action, move health spending toward a sustainable path and greatly contribute to the well-being of older adults.

Applied gerontology and geriatrics always entail a multidisciplinary perspective and usually demand an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Providing a unique combination of perspectives, treatment approaches, and expertise, The Practical Handbook of Clinical Gerontology explores issues relevant to practitioners who work with the elderly. A leading cast of contributors--representing the fields of psychology, medicine, neuropsychology, nursing, and law--examines what is known about specific disorders and discusses treatment techniques and the development of intervention plans. This comprehensive volume begins with an overview of several broad topics pertinent to the treatment of older adults and discusses special considerations in assessment. It then presents up-to-date information on treatment of specific psychological and behavioral disorders of older adults. The final section covers interdisciplinary issues, including information about common medical problems, rehabilitation, and the psychopharmacological treatment of mental health problems. Written in a language that is accessible to a general health care audience, this extensive volume will be a valuable resource for mental health care providers, medical students, researchers, and graduate students in such fields as geriatrics, gerontology, nursing, psychology, and social work. **Please note the following three quotes are from the same person** "This handbook has a variety of attributes that make it a highly desirable desk reference for today's mental health practitioners in geriatrics and gerontology. Few stones have been left unturned in the 22 reader-friendly chapters that comprise the handbook. Not only are general treatment issues addressed in great detail but assessment procedures, the treatment of specialized psychological and behavioral problems, and even issues in effective collaboration with medical geriatricians are considered. The scope and breadth of clinical knowledge and wisdom found within the covers of this volume are certainly impressive." --Lenard W. Kaye, Professor, Bryn Mawr College "The authors have succeeded in drawing on the expertise of a broad range of recognized authorities in clinical gerontology who have the capacity to communicate to the reader with considerable clarity both current information and best-practice strategies of mental health intervention with older adults." --Lenard W. Kaye, Professor, Bryn Mawr College "It would be difficult to find another reference source in clinical gerontological practice that is able to deal with the challenges of practice in this area with greater comprehensiveness and authority. The multidisciplinary perspective of the handbook ensures it being a valuable addition to the clinical practice collections of psychologists, social workers, nurses, gerontologists, and other allied health professionals. And, once obtained it should not gather dust given the currency and utility of the information." --Lenard W. Kaye, Professor, Bryn Mawr College

Your indispensable guide to taking charge of the second half of your life. From Dr. Rosanne M. Leipzig, a top doctor with more than 35 years of experience caring for older people, Honest Aging is an indispensable guide to the second half of life, describing what to expect physically, psychologically, functionally, and emotionally as you age. Leipzig, an expert in evidence-based geriatrics, highlights how 80-year-olds differ from 60-year-olds and why knowing this is important for your health. With candor, humor, and empathy, this book will provide you with the knowledge and practical advice to optimize aging. The book * helps you recognize age-related changes in your body and mind and understand what's typical with aging and what's not; * offers guidance for common health concerns, including problems with memory, energy, mood, sleep, incontinence, mobility and falls, hearing and vision, aches and pains, gastrointestinal problems, weight, and sex; * shares advice on how to make decisions about health care, driving, and where to live; * includes helpful checklists and lists of medications to prepare for doctor and hospital visits; * recommends the best technology options, such as mobility devices, emergency device systems, and more; * counters common myths about aging; and * offers resources for additional information, self-help, and support. Enriched by illustrations, patient stories, and deep dives into science and the latest research, Honest Aging gives you the tools to take control of your health and well-being as you age.

The growing incidence of depression in old age has stimulated considerable research activity in recent years. Underdetected and undertreated, it is a profoundly disabling condition associated with a high rate of suicide. However, an enthusiastic approach to its detection and management can considerably improve an otherwise poor prognosis. Depression in Old Age is a distillate of the research information currently available, describing the causes, epidemiology and presentation of depression in the elderly. The book also provides guidance on the detection and management of depression as well as reviewing the psychosocial and biological contributors to its aetiology and prognosis. It will be required reading for those researching, or involved in, the areas of psychiatry, psychology, medicine, social work and primary care.