Overview

This text provides a foundation of essential knowledge and practical guidance for building best practice in the care of older people. Fully updated for its second edition, Care of Older People uses a whole-person and values-led approach to explore practice with older people, providing the opportunity for practitioners to reflect critically on not just what they do but also on how and why. It includes two new chapters, the first looking at the ways in which digital technologies can impact on how care support is delivered and the potential for older people’s lives to be enriched or otherwise by them, and the second reflecting the particular challenges of helping older people at the end of their lives to manage their needs. Highlighting how older people in receipt of care support can be enabled to be co-producers of knowledge, it challenges the depiction of older people with support needs as one-dimensional individuals rather than multi-dimensional people with life left to live. This accessible book is an invaluable learning resource for all those working, or studying, across the caring professions, including social work, social care, nursing, occupational therapy and anyone committed to excellence in eldercare.

Full Product Details

9781916925908

Table of Contents

Reviews

'This manual has long been needed. The care of older people is not only an important topic, but has been a neglected area, both practically and academically. Sue Thompson has produced a compassionate, conceptually sophisticated, and extremely practical approach to eldercare. Her knowledge of the field, conceptual thinking and practical understanding will make this book invaluable for caregivers. It is a must read, a gift to all who will read it. Exceptionally well written, it is filled with stories, practical suggestions, and conceptual backing for the ideas presented. The book offers fresh hope and comfort to those making the journey of life.' Dr Gerry R. Cox - Professor Emeritus of Sociology at University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, USA 'This is a long overdue manual which offers a first-class guide to working with elderly people. The concept that older people are people with problems and not the problem is central to the author’s whole approach and is a refreshing change from so much of the literature. I especially like the fact students and workers can study at their own pace and in what order they like but supported by the centrality of reflective practice throughout. This latter element is particularly well designed, demanding that participants think through what are often complex and multi-dimensional issues surrounding eldercare. An excellent resource I heartily endorse.' Dr John Bates, former Head of Social Work & Social Justice, Liverpool Hope University

Author Information

Dr Sue Thompson has many years’ experience as a nurse, social worker, care manager, practice teacher, distance learning tutor, researcher and writer of working in the field of eldercare. Throughout her career, her passion has been to promote eldercare practice which is driven by a desire on the part of those who support dependent older people to help them to live, as far as is possible, the life they want to be living. This passion inspired her PhD study on reciprocity in old age, where she explored whether a sense of ‘usefulness’ remains important to older people’s self-esteem and spiritual well-being when they become significantly dependent on others, and whether this is recognised by those undertaking assessments of their care needs.

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