This book gathers the revised and selected contributions to the 6th Dementia Lab Conference, D-Lab 2022, held on September 20-22, 2022, in Leuven. It describes original and innovative research on how design can contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia, their loved ones, and caregivers. The papers highlight the value of participation within design, analyzing it at three levels: personal, product, and organizational. The presented ideas and findings address 'The Residue of Design' and go beyond the initial impact of the design itself by looking at what benefits design research brings for people with dementia. The papers cover topics such as the development of creative design methods to foster participation and engagement from people with dementia, evaluation studies or critical reflections that reveal the impact of products and the built environment in dementia care, and raising awareness and countering stigma in societal views on dementia.

Spending the final chapter of your life in a nursing home is considered, by many, a fate worse than death. Others, however, have found that through enlightened, imaginative care even the frailest of lives can flourish. The key to such a transformation is to replace the constricting custodial centres of the past with a more informed, research-based approach. This book is timely, responding to evidence of the urgent need for change described in the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect and its predecessor subtitled Neglect. In this book, the author proposes a model of care that places the whole person at its centre, sidestepping the constraints of a reductionist funding model that focusses on residents' deficits - and the proprietor's financial gain. Aged care requires a comprehensive research-based guide to fulfil this aim. Narratives are included throughout the book to reinforce the fact that nursing home care is about individual residents and their unique lives. Topics explored in various chapters include: * Ageing in a Changing Community * Social, Gerontological Care * A Palliative Approach * Community Expectations Ageing in a Nursing Home: Foundations for Care takes a realistic approach that draws on contemporary research and narratives from the unique lives of older Australians who, despite their frailty, teach us how to care. Such knowledge informs and influences their future. The book is a resource intended for all who have a stake in the provision of best practice residential aged care, and all who benefit from such care. Its academic appeal will include those who design and teach courses in aged care: gerontology, general practice medicine, nursing, attendant care, allied health, and chaplaincy. Academics and teachers will find useful, well-referenced material for their courses, together with ample scope for researchers.

The transitional phase from pre-older adult to older adult affects the wellbeing of the concerned person economically, physically, and psychologically. This book is a description of the aging transition and discusses various psychological, health, and social challenges faced by older adults globally. It also offers a comparative study on the lifestyles of older adults in India and the United States. Although there is no consensus yet on an all-encompassing theory of aging, this book centers on various theories related to aging processes in an effort to advance discussion on different aspects of aging. Various theoretical formulations, such as person-centered, Hinduism, biopsychosocial, and positive psychology, guided the author to address the topics covered in this volume. Aging and Physicians Aging and Retirement Aging, Caregiving, and COVID-19 Aging and Diversity Aging and Longevity Aging, Disease Prevention, and Technology Aging and Spirituality Through the chapters, the author builds an understanding of the fundamental relation of aging with various health and socioeconomic factors, and also emphasizes a person-centered, holistic approach that values personal autonomy, choice, comfort, dignity, and purposeful living to support aging well. Rethinking the Aging Transition: Psychological, Health, and Social Principles to Guide Aging Well has academic value from a multicultural perspective that would be of benefit to graduate and undergraduate students in gerontology and other disciplines that study aging and older adult populations. With the main aim of raising awareness, this book is an important resource for a diverse group of populations globally, including clinical and non-clinical caregivers, other health(care) professionals, and policy-makers.

This book provides an insight into advances in elder abuse in the areas of research, policy, practice and legislation. It provides readers with a broad understanding of the topic and considers the progress in elder abuse knowledge. The book explores the nexus of ageism and elder abuse, describes key social policies and their legislative manifestation, covers major policies and programs related to elder abuse, defines elder sexual abuse and much more. It offers the reader a comprehensive insight into new perspectives and approaches to both understanding and responding to elder abuse. As such it will be an asset to academics, students, healthcare practitioners, policy makers and the general public.

Older patients carry some of the highest risks of suffering an adverse event or death following anesthesia and surgery. They are inherently vulnerable, presenting with numerous comorbidities and reduced physiological reserve, requiring 'gero-centric' perioperative care for everything from routine eye surgery to major cardiac surgeries. Dementia, frailty, and the need for palliative care and pain management for the orthopedic patient are important areas requiring special consideration in this group. This book provides a general overview of these topics for those healthcare providers who may not have extensive knowledge of this patient population, while at the same time offering practical tips for the more experienced clinician. Chapters cover the spectrum of perioperative care including preoperative management of comorbid conditions, intraoperative anesthetic management, postoperative pain control, and a primer on advanced directive discussions. This book is appropriate not only for anesthesiologists but for any perioperative physician caring for the older patient.

This book discusses the contemporary medico-social, psychological, legal, and therapeutic concerns related to people affected by dementia as a patient or as a caregiver. It provides global emerging responses to dementia. It highlights different dimensions of dementia in terms of issues, concerns, policies, and strategies all around the globe. The contributing authors present issues from cross-cultural education visible in dementia studies and discuss the power of music, art therapy, artistic collaborations, and many innovative practices in dealing with dementia. Written by international specialists from various disciplines, the chapters include challenges and emerging issues related to the role of family caregivers, the concern with vulnerability to elder abuse and neglect, and the role of technology in dementia care. The book provides a diverse perspective to dementia care not covered in such a broad way by any other books on the topic. This book is intended for academics from a wide range of fields such as sociology, geriatrics, community medicine, public health, clinical psychology, social work all of which, collectively, bear on the problem and the solutions for better dementia care.

Improvements in health care in the 21st century mean people are living longer, but with the paradox that chronic illness is increasingly prevalent. Dementia, a term used to describe various different brain disorders that involve a loss of brain function that is usually progressive and eventually severe, is a condition associated with an ageing population and is becoming increasingly common. Worldwide there are approximately 24 million people with dementia, expected to rise to 81 million by 2040. Inevitably, people living with dementia will die, but their needs at the end of life are not well known. This book describes what might be achieved if the values and best practice of both dementia care and palliative care are brought together, to achieve quality end of life care for this specific group of patients. It explores what is known about the experience of dying with dementia, using a narrative approach, and develops a model that draws together a 'person-centred' approach to care. The book examines the possibilities and the challenges faced when trying to improve quality of life for people with dementia, and presents examples of good practice from across the world.

This in-depth description of life in a nursing/care home for 70 residents and 40 staff highlights the daily care of frail or ill residents between 80 and 100 years of age, including people suffering with dementia. How residents interact with care assistants is emphasised, as are the different behaviours of men and women observed during a year of daily conversations between the author, patients and staff, who share their stories of the pressures of the work. Living Before Dying shows a world where, in extreme old age, people have to learn how to cope with living communally.

This book explores international biomedical research and development on the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. It offers timely, multidisciplinary reflections on the social and ethical issues raised by promises of early diagnostics and asks under which conditions emerging diagnostic technologies can be considered a responsible innovation. The initial chapters in this edited volume provide an overview and a critical discussion of recent developments in biomedical research on Alzheimer's disease. Subsequent contributions explore the values at stake in current practices of dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, both within and outside the biomedical domain. Novel diagnostic technologies for Alzheimer's disease emerge in a complex and shifting field, full of controversies. Innovating with care requires a precise mapping of how concepts, values and responsibilities are filled in through the confrontation of practices. In doing so, the volume offers a practice-based approach of responsible innovation that is also applicable to other fields of innovation.

This innovative volume exposes dementia as a condition that the aging prison population is increasingly facing. Going beyond exploring the need to understand dementia within prison populations, it argues that healthcare workers and prison staff must ensure that prisoners developing dementia during their sentence are identified and supported. Dementia in Prison covers three key areas: * Healthcare services in prison settings and how these affect the rapidly aging prison population, * The human rights of prisoners with dementia, alongside the ethics of healthcare in this environment, * The current state of support for prisoners with dementia and any recommendations for future assessment, diagnosis, and policies. This provocative book will be invaluable to scholars in the fields of public health, criminology and medical sociology as well as nurses and prison staff.

This book makes an enquiry into policies surrounding old age and telecare. It contextualises telecare within the wider history of health and social care in England to build the case that there are grand narratives of old age embedded in policies. Divided into four sections, the book covers: * Connecting old age with telecare * A general review of old age and telecare * A critical enquiry into discourses and the identity of old age * Conclusions and future directions. The author highlights the manifestation of old age discourses in care policies, how they have been perpetuated yet also transformed in the context of telecare, and what this means about older people. The book will be of interest to students and academics in the fields of gerontology, sociology, old age studies, philosophy, social policy, health and social care policy, information systems, and critical theoreticians

The fifth edition of this widely used book by caregivers brings to you updated and revised content, built on the basic understanding that medicine does not work in a vacuum, but rather alongside other disciplines to provide the environment for a healthy and fulfilling long life. Edited by alumni and senior faculty at McGill University, with international contributions, this book advocates the achievement of better, longer, satisfying, and more productive lives for older persons. It is a helpful resource for physicians, professional caregivers, therapists, students, and residents in medical and nursing disciplines, who care for our burgeoning older population and need to know what to look for and when to consult specialists. Key Features: 1. Follows a uniform structure with many chapters having a hypothetical vignette for instructional purposes and with the clinical chapters detailing the features and diagnosis of given conditions, along with possible management protocols specific to afflicted older individuals. 2. Builds on the success of the previous four editions to provide high-quality content from international experts for physicians and other caregivers in the field. 3. Provides possible management for pressing problems, including the nursing home challenge, pandemics such as COVID, and precision therapy for cancer.

The first book to focus specifically on practical gerontology field experiences This innovative text guides gerontology students step by step through the process of searching for, securing, and completing an aging-based internship, practicum, or field placement. It underscores the value of hands-on, community-based learning and provides a framework for identifying experiences that fit a student's academic requirements and professional objectives. The text describes the multitude of interdisciplinary and interprofessional career opportunities available for those working with or on behalf of older adults, ranging from traditional opportunities in health and human services to careers in leisure, business, housing, and finance. The text not only draws attention to ageism's presence and inappropriateness, but also discusses ways to detect, avoid, and actively dismantle ageist beliefs and actions. Emphasizing that there is no such homogenous block as "the elderly," the book helps students to understand the varied experiences of aging. It addresses important nuances in working with older adults including the development of effective communication skills, awareness of diversity, and the development of cultural competencies. Real-life scenarios and activities throughout are designed to enhance content and support students' professional and personal growth. Readers are also introduced to the interprofessional aging service system, delineating ways to navigate the complex network of policies, programs, and personnel, along with a discussion of the unique roles, responsibilities, and perspectives in these settings. Practical information for transitioning from student to professional includes tips on job search, resumE preparation, and networking. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers. Key Features: Addresses the interdisciplinary nature of gerontology practice throughout health and human services Focuses on ageism among professionals in health and human services and how to detect, avoid, and eliminate it Explores significant nuances in working with older adults including effective communication and awareness of diversity and cultural competency Covers understanding and supporting older individuals with physical and/or cognitive impairments Includes an extensive glossary to better navigate interprofessional communication Each chapter incorporates real life scenarios, learning objectives, professional development activities, savvy professional tips, pitfalls to avoid, and discussion questions Instructors have access to the Instructor's Manual and chapter PowerPoints to facilitate teaching.

This innovative book provides a new conceptual analysis of loneliness - a condition associated with severe health consequences, including increased morbidity and early death. Arguing that social connection is not the only answer, it explores pathways for transforming loneliness to healthy solitude. The first part of the book draws on the humanities and arts, including psychology, philosophy, and literature to analyse the common, and potentially serious, problem of loneliness. It makes the case that the condition is less a deficiency than a state of self-disconnection that modernity feeds through social forces. The second part of the book looks at how person-centred health care can help educate persons to transform loneliness into healthy solitude. It provides an analysis of self-connection and spiritual connection, discussing how these forms of contact can mitigate risks associated with both lack of social connection, and social connection itself, such as self-disconnection and rejection by others. It goes on to demonstrate that connection to the self and spirit can make aloneness a resource and facilitate access to benefits of connecting with others. This thought-provoking book provides students, scholars, and practitioners from a range of health and social care backgrounds with a new way of thinking about, researching, and practising with lonely people.

With increasing urgency, decisions about the digitalized future of healthcare and implementations of new assistive technologies are becoming focal points of societal and scientific debates and addresses large audiences. Decisions require a careful weighing of risks and benefits and contextualizing in-depth ethical analysis with robust empirical data. However, up to now, research on social assistive technologies is mostly dispersed over different academic fields and disciplines. A comprehensive overview on discussions regarding values at stake and ethical assessment of recent developments especially in healthcare is largely missing. This publication initiates an interdisciplinary discourse on ethical, legal and social implications of socially assistive technologies in healthcare. Contributions include perspectives from nursing science, social sciences, philosophy, medical ethics, economics and law to present an - to our knowledge - first and comprehensive overview on different aspects of the use and implementation of socially assistive technologies from an ethical perspective. It combines practically relevant insights and examples from current research and development with ethical analysis to uncover exemplary moral tipping points between promotion of participation or well-being and risks and damages to these values. Healthcare professionals involved in implementation of smart technologies as well as scholars from the field of humanities, nursing and medicine, interested in the discussions on ethics and technology in healthcare, will benefit from this new contribution. The publication is part of the international DigitAs conference "Aging between Participation and Simulation - Ethical Dimensions of Socially Assistive Technologies" held at the Institute of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine (Ruhr University Bochum) from 4 February to 8 February 2019. Within this framework, twelve young scholars were invited to discuss their contributions with renowned experts in the field. The Institute of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine is one of the leading institutes in empirically informed ethical analysis in healthcare and medicine and is a member of the European Association of Centres of Medical Ethics (EACME).

This book explores various practices and policies related to ageing issues in India. It addresses ageing concerns from a theoretical and empirical viewpoint with in-depth analyses of existential dimensions of ageing. It provides deep insights into ageing in India by discussing demographics related to health and social differentials, gender concerns, retirement problems, epidemiological transition taking place in the country with rising problem of dementia and mental health problems. It consists of 23 chapters written by various established as well as upcoming scholars in the field. The authors cover a broad range of topics with regard to provisions for institutional care, geriatric practice and emerging issues of elder abuse. The book will appeal to professionals and to lay people getting interested in ageing India from a social, health, gender, economic, psychological and emotional aspects.

A Story of a Marriage Through Dementia and Beyond is the extraordinary, unflinching account from sociologist Laurel Richardson of her love and caregiving through the last period of her husband Ernest Lockridge's life - from his transient amnesia to his death from Lewy Body Dementia. Focusing on the lived experience of the caregiver through the loved one's journey from mild cognitive impairment to death, the book gives the reader the experience of what the medical diagnoses mean and what has led up to the loss. It shows the complex, nuanced lives of a couple both living with the worst effects of a disease like Lewy Body Dementia, while maintaining, sometimes with hope and laughter, their loving connection nourished through a 40-year marriage. Dementia is a 'silver tsunami' - the third leading cause of death amongst senior populations. Richardson's beautifully written book gives on-the-ground emotional support to those already in service as caregivers and helps prepare others for such service. Hospices, book clubs, and medical and allied professionals will find this book extraordinarily valuable. Weaving in autoethnographic and sociological methods and scholarship, as well as a list of reading and further resources for caregivers and scholars, this book will also appeal to courses in a wide range of disciplines and fields, including health communication, nursing and allied health, courses covering death and dying, end-of-life, and illness care, and, of course, scholars pursuing autoethnography, creative non-fiction, and qualitative methods.

Contains more than 300 practice questions and answers!Assisted Living Administration and Management Review is the first practical question-based study guide for anyone preparing for certification or licensure exams in residential care and assisted living (RC/AL) administration. Organized according to the original five domains of practice established by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) and used in Assisted Living Administration and Management: Effective Practices and Model Programs in Elder Care, Second Edition, the book reflects the type of questions seen on the state and national exams. Answers and brief rationales have been provided in a final chapter organized according to the five domains of practice or knowledge areas of responsibility - Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Business and Financial Management, Environmental Management, and Resident Care Management. Written by certified assisted living administrators and licensed health professionals and featuring questions relevant to all state-based exams, this is the authoritative study guide for anyone seeking professional certification/licensure in this growing line of service. The review begins with a comprehensive introduction to the current professional landscape of residential care and assisted living administration in addition to coverage of the different certification and licensure programs available. The following domain-based chapters feature multiple-choice, single-best answer questions, covering all core knowledge areas of responsibility that one is likely to see when taking state or national exams. Containing over 300 practice questions with rationales to encourage self-assessment and further learning, this is a must-have resource for students and professionals seeking RC/AL administrator certification or licensure. Key Features: Over 300 multiple-choice, single-best answer questions with answers and rationales Prepares students to study for Residential Care/Assisted Living (RC/AL) administrator certification and licensure exams administered at the state or national level Organized according to five domains of practice - Organizational Management, Human Resources Management, Business and Financial Management, Environmental Management, and Resident Care Management Written by certified assisted living administrators and licensed health professionals Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers

The seventh edition of this classic multidisciplinary text for students of gerontology continues to offer practical, user-friendly, and comprehensive information about the physical changes and common pathologies associated with the aging process. Fully updated with current information regarding diagnosis, risk factors, prevention recommendations, treatment approaches, and medications along with new statistics on prevalence and evidence-based clinical guidelines, this textbook focuses on physical changes and common pathologies of aging, while also considering the psychological and social implications with which they are inextricably linked.Through a systems-based approach, positive aspects of aging are emphasized, showing the reader how older adults can gain greater personal control through lifestyle changes and preventive health strategies. Included is important content related to teaching, health, and well-being, such as nutrition, medications, aging with lifelong disabilities, complementary and alternative therapies, and death and dying. The seventh edition features a new chapter on gerontechnology, with new content on the influence of pandemics, including COVID-19, on death, dying, grieving, and funeral rituals. This multifaceted text also delivers new and updated information on diagnosis and treatment, along with stressed behaviors and interventions to promote more personal control the individual aging process. Helpful appendices include practical suggestions for improving safety for older adults and websites of relevant organizations, along with a glossary of medical terms used in the text. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers. New to the Seventh Edition: A brand-new chapter on gerontechnology Updated information on diagnosis and treatment, risk factors, and prevention recommendations New statistics for prevalence and clinical guidelines/recommendations Focus on behaviors and interventions providing personal control over aging process Practical suggestions for improving older adult safety Influence of COVID-19 on death, dying, grieving, and funeral rituals Test bank and PowerPoint slides Key Features: A unique systems-based approach covering the anatomy and physiology of each organ system Focuses on common health problems within each body system Addresses psychological and social implications of aging Provides evidence-based treatment strategies Describes practical applications of aging data - how to use the data to so adults can gain greater personal freedom Useful as textbook, practitioner's guide and family caregiver resource

Prepare for success on the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP certification exams! Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Review provides more than 1,300 review questions matching the subjects in the ANCC and AACN examination blueprints. All questions mirror the exams' item formats, including multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, and are accompanied by answers with detailed rationales. Written by acute care NP educator Jill Beavers-Kirby and a team of expert contributors, this book provides the comprehensive review and practice you need to pass your exam! More than 1,300 review questions are provided, along with answers and detailed rationales for correct answers. Subject areas match the latest ANCC and AACN examination blueprints, covering major body systems, multisystem disorders, and topics such as caring practices and collaboration. Question formats match the ANCC and AACN item formats, including multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. Up-to-date clinical content reflects the latest evidence-based clinical practice as well as national and international treatment guidelines and protocols. Test-Taking Strategies chapter provides tips to improve study habits, strategies for decreasing anxiety, and techniques to improve students' critical thinking and testing skills. A team of highly qualified, expert authors contributes questions covered by the ANCC and AACN Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP test plans.

Co-Published with the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) to provide you with invaluable guidance for acing your Adult-Gerontology CNS exam! This comprehensive review manual provides the ultimate resource for either the AACN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Wellness Through Acute Care (ACCNS-AG) or the ANCC Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS-BC) certification exam. It incorporates both current test plans and the most recent NACNS core competencies, encompassing all the essential knowledge you need to pass the exam and succeed in practice. Written by certified Clinical Nurse Specialist educators and practitioners, this guide begins with an overview of both exams, study tips, and test-taking strategies to help you prepare for the big day. The manual is then organized into three sections according to the Three Spheres of Impact for CNS Practice. Patient Direct Care: covers health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, pharmacology, and pathophysiology Nurses & Nursing Practice: reviews health maximization, consultation, advocacy, culturally competent care, and coaching and mentoring Organizations & Systems: features sections on leadership, QI/safety, outcomes, research, and evidence-based practice Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification Review provides a targeted, systematic review for the ACCNS-AG and AGCNS-BC exams with end-of-chapter review questions and a FULL practice test that includes answers and rationales in an easy-to-digest format. Key Features: Reflects the latest AACN and ANCC test plans Incorporates the updated NACNS Core Competencies and the AACN Scope and Standards for CNS Practice Edited and authored by certified Clinical Nurse Specialist educators and practitioners Includes end-of-chapter review questions, PLUS a valuable 175-question practice test with rationales for self-assessment Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers

Of interest to all academics and researchers in gerontology, social work, psychology and nursing, as well as those interested in visual and innovative creative arts-based research methods. Uses innovative qualitative research methods in action, including participatory photography and poetry, to show what it is like to live in an aged care home. Stimulates debate and discussion about current practice, and the future of aged care in the context of rapid population ageing and automation.

This book aims to clarify the potential association between frailty and cardiovascular disease in older people. Covering the biological as well as the clinical point of view, it allows researchers and clinicians to discover the significance of this topic. The contributions cover the most important aspects in the potential relationship between frailty and cardiovascular disease. In particular, authoritative authors in this field have clarified the definition and the epidemiology of frailty and cardiovascular disease in older people. A large part of the volume is dedicated to the biological mechanisms of frailty and cardiovascular disease, trying to find those in common between these two conditions. Since this book is dedicated to both researchers and clinicians, we have proposed some chapters to the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and frailty. In this regard, the importance of geriatric evaluation in cardiac surgery for older people is well covered. Finally, the importance of cardiac rehabilitation and physical exercise is summarized, being, actually, the most important treatments for both frailty and cardiovascular disease. Written by many well-known and widely published experts in their respective fields, this book will appeal to a wide readership such as researchers in the field and clinicians, especially suited in geriatric medicine and cardiology who, every day, face frail older patients.

This book examines the concepts of preventive care and health promotion specifically in the context of the elderly. It adopts a broad concept of health and defines a number of goals around this theme. Thereafter it provides a succinct, up-to-the-minute critique of the worth, risks and costs of preventive care and health promotional strategies for older people. A broad range of such strategies are considered including cancer prevention, the prevention of non-cancer health problems and strategies aimed at enhancing functional status and strengthening the social support network. Principles for tailoring these strategies to the varied needs and wishes of elderly people are outlined. Likewise, practical measures are discussed for integrating these preventive strategies into the existing health care system. In particular, the role of screening, case-finding and targeting strategies in primary care are reviewed in detail. The book concludes with a wider look at the cost implications of preventive care for the purchasers of health and health care services.

Lessons in Aging and Dying: A Poetic Autoethnography captures the experience of being elderly and facing the end of life. The book presents a collection of poems about life's end accompanied with narrative commentary. Organized as 73 lessons, they can be read as personal curiosities, momentary realizations, farcical departures, embarrassing fears, therapeutic encounters, experiential truths, hopeful conjectures, and inevitable destinations. This book is a poetic inquiry that calls upon the lyrical in narrative and poetic forms to enter its subject. It also is an autoethnography that examines culture through the deployment of the self. Framed by introductory and concluding remarks, the book is organized around three developmental stages. The initial pages, "Beginnings," recognize the author's birth into the end, a time when he knew he had arrived at a place beyond middle age. The middle unit, "From Here to There," displays an unsettled settling in, driven by an ongoing tension between resistance and acquiescence. It serves as a transitional stage into "Endings," the final section that anticipates death's imminent arrival and speculates about how author might meet his end. Together, these units provide opportunities for identification, speculation, and resistance. Published as part of the prestigious autoethnographic series Writing Lives: Ethnographic and Autoethnographic Narratives, and written by one of the foremost academics in the fields of communication and performance studies, this text is particularly suitable for students and researchers in subjects such as relational and family communication, gerontology and end-of-life care, and performance studies.