Dying is a social experience, changing irrevocably the family and social networks around each individual who dies. Older people are a growing proportion of the population and need help to think and plan to make positive choices about this important phase of their life. Social work should help to strengthen individuals to achieve a respectful death and families to move forward in their lives. This valuable book focuses on practice interventions, advocating open communication and skilled interpersonal practice to help dying and bereaved people, their families and carers. The authors review sociological and psychological ideas about dying and bereavement, incorporating spiritual care, multi-professional practice and ethical issues likely to face social workers in end-of-life and palliative care. Important features include: a demonstration of the importance of the social work role in palliative care a firm knowledge base for social work practice with dying and bereaved people in both end-of-life and palliative care a strong focus on social processes as well as psychological and emotional responses to death and bereavement extended case examples help to develop practice skills fully 'pause and reflect' sections help students and practitioners think through their own reactions to practice with people who are dying and bereaved exploration of group and community interventions in end-of-life care an international focus, with useful further reading and website information. This book will be essential reading for students, health care workers and social workers and their managers who are working in adult services, end of life and palliative care. Read Malcolm Payne's blog at http://blogs.stchristophers.org.uk/ CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA: Copies of this title are available from Lyceum Publishing, www.lyceumbooks.com

This succinct yet comprehensive book written by Margaret Reith and Malcolm Payne combines the authors' more than 70 years of social work experience to provide a definitive introduction to social work practice in end-of-life and palliative care. Reith and Payne trace the development of palliative care and the important role of social work within it. The book's unique sociological focus on required practitioner knowledge of death, dying, and bereavement helps balance out the prevalent psychological focus of other books in the field. Chapters in the book focus on practice skills and interventions. Extensive use of case materials throughout the text help students and practitioners juggle the precarious balance of helping their clients keep hope for the future while understanding the truth that people are moving towards death. Unlike many books that focus on medical issues, this book addresses ethical issues faced by social workers and helps them guide their clients through this difficult journey.

Dying is a social experience, changing irrevocably the family and social networks around each individual who dies. Older people are a growing proportion of the population and need help to think and plan to make positive choices about this important phase of their life. Social work should help to strengthen individuals and families to achieve a respectful death and to move forward in their lives. This valuable book focuses on practice interventions, advocating open communication and skilled interpersonal practice to help dying and bereaved people, their families and carers. The authors review sociological and psychological ideas about dying and bereavement, incorporating spiritual care, multi-professional practice and ethical issues likely to face social workers in end-of-life and palliative care. Important features include: a demonstration of the importance of the social work role in palliative care; a firm knowledge base for social work practice with dying and bereaved people in both end-of-life and palliative care; a strong focus on social processes as well as psychological and emotional responses to death and bereavement; extended case examples help to develop practice skills fully; 'pause and reflect' sections help students and practitioners think through their own reactions to practice with people who are dying and bereaved; exploration of group and community interventions in end-of-life care; an international focus, with useful further reading and website information. This book will be essential reading for students, health care workers and social workers and their managers who are working in adult services, end of life and palliative care.