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.

People with dementia have often played a passive role in the investigation of their condition. The contributors to this book look at ways of redressing the balance and involving them in the research process. They describe the skills that researchers and care staff need, and the methods they can use, when seeking to draw out and validate the views of people with dementia successfully, and discuss the ways in which such views can be included in debates about dementia methodology and policy. The book focuses on a number of projects which have taken different approaches to working with people with dementia in research, including a chapter examining the difficult process of interviewing people with dementia whose first language is not English and a chapter describing a project which encourages people with dementia to participate in the analysis of the research findings. This varied and innovative book will help those in the fields of health and social policy, dementia research and dementia care to hear the voices of people with dementia more clearly, and to include their opinions more effectively in the provision of services.

This scholarly yet accessible textbook is the most comprehensive single text in the field of dementia care. Drawn from research evidence, international expertise and good practice guidelines, the book has been crafted alongside people with dementia and their families. Case studies and quotes enrich every chapter, illustrating the realities of living with dementia and bringing theory to life. Fully updated with 10 brand new chapters, this landmark textbook has enormous breadth and gives an authoritative overview of dementia care. The 2nd edition now includes chapters on the following topics: * Dementia friendly communities * Representations of dementia in the media * Younger people with dementia * The arts and dementia * Enhancing relationships between families and those with dementia * Whole person assessment * Dementia friendly physical design * Transitions in care This compelling new edition is a must purchase for those working or volunteering in health and social care, undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of disciplines in health and social work, and anyone interested in the field of dementia care including people with dementia and their families. "While we have made significant advances in the care for people with dementia and their families, there is much work yet to be done. This book provides a fantastic framework in which to set our understanding of dementia and to take things forward." Alistair Burns, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, UK "Bravo to the authors of Excellence in Dementia Care! They have created a must read guidebook for those providing care to persons experiencing cognitive changes and their families. This collaborative effort focuses on successful provider strategies encompassing topics across the dementia journey and is filled with spot on, relevant, and timely information. Best of all, this work is loaded with real case studies to help translate knowledge to practice, making it a true resource for all practitioners." Suzanne Bottum-Jones, MA, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

A practical resource written specifically for social care professionals working with people with dementia and their families, this book gives guidance on person-centred good practice throughout the care process from the initial diagnosis, through day care, respite care, long-term care, and death and attachment. The guide will enable social workers to manage their cases effectively and empathetically, making appropriate, culturally sensitive decisions and acting as advocates for this growing client group. It contains essential background material about the financial and legal context, including an explanation of the relevance of the Mental Health Act 1983. The author locates weak points in current provision and makes practical suggestions for future developments. Social Work and Dementia will enable social services to meet the needs of older clients experiencing dementia, and to understand, apply and contribute to new developments in their care.

People with dementia need increasingly specialised support as they approach the end of life, and so too do their families and the professionals working with them. This book describes not only what can be done to ensure maximum quality of life for those in the final stages of the illness, but also how best to support those involved in caring for them. Emphasising the importance of being attuned to the experiences and needs of the person with dementia, the authors explain why and how they should be included in decisions relating to their end of life care. Practical strategies for ensuring physical and emotional wellbeing are provided, drawing on useful examples from practice and providing solutions to potential challenges that carers and family members will face. Dilemmas surrounding end of life care are explored in detail, including the moral dilemma of medical intervention, and the authors suggest ways of supporting family members through the process in terms of providing information, helping them adjust to change and loss, and involving them in their relative's care, and at how care staff can be supported through appropriate education and training, team building and information-giving. This is an essential resource for anyone who wishes to provide compassionate, person-centred care for a person with dementia as they approach the end of life, including care staff, nurses, social workers and related professionals.

What is the future of old age? How will families, services, and economies adapt to an older population? Such questions often provoke extreme and opposing answers: some see ageing populations as having the potential to undermine economic growth and prosperity; others see new and exciting ways of living in old age. The Futures of Old Age places these questions in the context of social and political change, and assesses what the various futures of old age might be. Prepared by the British Society of Gerontology, The Futures of Old Age brings together a team of leading international gerontologists from the United Kingdom and United States, drawing on their expertise and research. The book's seven sections deal with key contemporary themes including: population ageing; households and families; health; wealth; pensions; migration; inequalities; gender and self; and identity in later life.