The fourth edition of this highly successful text is an ideal resource for practitioners from all disciplines working in a wide range of care settings for older people. It conveys the depth of knowledge needed to develop the complex and sometimes delicate skills required for nursing interventions and support of older people. It takes an evidence-based and person-centred approach to understanding and meeting older people's needs as well as problems that nurses and other practitioners deal with every day, such as pain, immobility, breathlessness, eating and drinking. This edition has been extensively rewritten by subject experts from nursing, social work, physiotherapy, gerontology and sociology. The 34 chapters are organised in four sections, which cover: . Ageing and old age . Policy Change and the Contexts of Care . Nursing Older People: independence, autonomy and self-fulfilment . Current issues and reflections on caring for older people. Comprehensive coverage of the theory and practice of caring for older people provides a good basis for effective nursing care. The well-written text, clear design and page-layout make the information highly accessible. Case histories help relate theory to practice. Recommended reading lists and references at the end of each chapter facilitate further study. New chapters on major policy changes and organisation of care for older people; sexuality and relationships in later life; and health care for older homeless people. Additional photographs bring key concepts to life.

Activity and engagement are vital to our well-being throughout our lives and this continues to be just as true of people living with dementia. The activities presented in this book have been designed to provide meaningful engagement for residents, while respecting each individual resident's readiness to engage and participate. This approach to person-centred care has proven to be extremely effective: activities such as Namaste Care and Memory Cafes have engaged residents who had previously not responded to interventions, demonstrably showing an increase in their levels of well-being. Supported by case studies, each chapter will also recommend the best way to implement the ideas discussed in the care home environment and beyond.

Elder maltreatment is pervasive throughout the WHO European Region: at least 4 million elderly people are estimated to experience maltreatment in any one year and 2500 of them will die each year. Most countries in the region have an ageing population, putting increasing numbers of people at risk.This report highlights the biological, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that influence the risk of being a victim or perpetrator of elder maltreatment, as well as the protective factors that can help prevent it. There is some evidence of effective interventions, including psychological programs for perpetrators and programs designed to change attitudes towards older people, improve the mental health of caregivers and, in earlier life, to promote nurturing relationships and learn social skills. The evidence base needs to be strengthened, but surveys show that the public and policy-makers are already concerned about the problem. This report proposes a set of actions for Member States, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders to strengthen the policy response and devote adequate resources to the issue.