Addiction among older adults is a hidden and hushed problem. Signs and symptoms of alcohol or medication abuse can easily be mistaken for conditions... related to aging. And even when friends or family members recognize signs of addiction, they often discount the need for intervention or treatment. With an estimated three million older Americans struggling with alcohol and drug misuse and abuse, Aging and Addiction is a much-needed resource. The authors, both experts in the field of addiction treatment and intervention, provide a respectful, definitive guide for recognizing and addressing substance abuse among older adults. Key topics include: understanding the relationship between aging and addiction, finding help for a loved one, and recognizing the treatment needs of older adults. Key features and benefits authors are widely recognized experts in the field of addiction addresses one of the nation's most underestimated, under treated health problems provides how-to-help information for family members and friends

The second edition of Aging and Communication provides a discussion of life-span aspects of Communication behavior, disorders, and interventions.... Chapters are written in a reader-friendly format, highlighting clinically relevant information. In-depth discussion of the effect of Aging on hearing, speech/voice, swallowing, cognition and language are provided. For each clinical area, information includes:
Effects of normal Aging
Disorders that occur frequently in the elderly population
Social, psychological, and environmental factors that influence functioning
Evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies
Relevant reimbursement issues
Authors from multiple disciplines contribute content that reflects the interdisciplinary challenges of understanding Communication and Aging. The text is organized around a framework of primary, secondary, and tertiary Aging. The book challenges the reader to examine their attitudes regarding Aging and provides suggestions for interaction with the elderly. It also includes discussions of end-of-life legal issues, counseling, and hospice care.

This new edition has been completely rewritten and includes chapters that address key topics in diversity and aging: research methods, psychological... aging; health beliefs, behaviors, and services; health disparities; informal and formal care for older persons; work and retirement; religious affiliation and spirituality; and death, dying, and bereavement. Taking a broad view of diversity, Mehrotra and Wagner discuss elements of diversity such as gender, race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, social class, rural-urban community location and sexual orientation. Including these elements allows them to convey some of the rich complexities of our diverse culture - complexities that provide both challenges to meet the needs of diverse population and opportunities to learn how to live in a pluralistic society. Throughout the book, Mehrotra and Wagner present up-to-date knowledge and scholarship in a way that engages readers in active learning. Rather than simply transmitting information, the authors place ongoing emphasis on developing readers’ knowledge and skills; fostering higher order thinking and encouraging exploration of personal values and attitudes. Distinctive features of the book include: Opening vignettes for each chapter that present a sampling of how the issues to be discussed apply to diverse elders. Active learning experiences that invite readers to interview diverse elders, conduct internet searches, and give an analysis of a case study. Quizzes at the end of the chapters help readers ascertain the extent to which they have learned the material; the key for each quiz includes details about correct and incorrect responses so that additional learning can occur. Aging and Diversity Online boxes interspersed throughout the book provide internet resources that readers may use to find new research and publications. Suggested readings and audiovisual resources given at the end of each chapter serve as a guide to additional information on topics covered in the chapter. This approach of presenting the material will help the readers understand and apply key concepts and principles in ways that will not only improve the lives of older people they serve, but will also enhance their own aging experience.

This new edition has been completely rewritten and includes chapters that address key topics in diversity and aging: research methods, psychological... aging; health beliefs, behaviors, and services; health disparities; informal and formal care for older persons; work and retirement; religious affiliation and spirituality; and death, dying, and bereavement. Taking a broad view of diversity, Mehrotra and Wagner discuss elements of diversity such as gender, race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, social class, rural-urban community location and sexual orientation. Including these elements allows them to convey some of the rich complexities of our diverse culture - complexities that provide both challenges to meet the needs of diverse population and opportunities to learn how to live in a pluralistic society. Throughout the book, Mehrotra and Wagner present up-to-date knowledge and scholarship in a way that engages readers in active learning. Rather than simply transmitting information, the authors place ongoing emphasis on developing readers’ knowledge and skills; fostering higher order thinking and encouraging exploration of personal values and attitudes. Distinctive features of the book include: Opening vignettes for each chapter that present a sampling of how the issues to be discussed apply to diverse elders. Active learning experiences that invite readers to interview diverse elders, conduct internet searches, and give an analysis of a case study. Quizzes at the end of the chapters help readers ascertain the extent to which they have learned the material; the key for each quiz includes details about correct and incorrect responses so that additional learning can occur. Aging and Diversity Online boxes interspersed throughout the book provide internet resources that readers may use to find new research and publications. Suggested readings and audiovisual resources given at the end of each chapter serve as a guide to additional information on topics covered in the chapter. This approach of presenting the material will help the readers understand and apply key concepts and principles in ways that will not only improve the lives of older people they serve, but will also enhance their own aging experience.

In the Second Edition, Gelfand devotes greater attention to the impact of immigration on the United States and provides a useful model for providers... working with older persons from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Based on 2000 Census data, this edition contains updated references throughout along with new tables/graphs. Chapter topics include: Security and the Ethnic Elderly; Family and Church as Sources of Assistance; and Programs and Services for the Ethnic Aged. Not meant to be an exhaustive review of the literature, the text focuses on specific issues and themes that the author believes are important to understanding and meeting the needs of older people from diverse backgrounds.

Aging and Everyday Life presents a balanced and realistic view of the aging experience. The research in this book reveals that much, if not most, of the... triumphs and trials experienced in later years are not unlike those confronted at other points in life. Just like younger people, the elderly experience both change and stability, shedding old roles and entering new ones. The process takes place in varied spheres of life: the worlds of home and family, work, and friendship. This thoughtful, engaging text brings together twenty-eight essays by leading researchers in social gerontology to explore the everyday aspects of aging. Readers will come away viewing the elderly as people whose lives are as complex and diverse, and therefore as nuanced as any.

This important book examines the relationship between religion and mental health throughout the life cycle, with a special emphasis on later life. It... asserts that successful aging is possible regardless of physical health or environmental circumstances, and that religious beliefs and behaviors may facilitate successful aging. Aging and God thoroughly examines the effects of religion and mental health on aging and provides a centralized resource of up-to-date references of research in the field. It focuses on recent findings, theoretical issues, and implications for clinical practice and contains ideas for further research. In Aging and God, you’ll also find information on project design that can help you develop grant applications and carry out studies.Aging and God is a helpful book for both mental health and religious professionals. It helps mental health specialists better understand the spiritual needs of older adults and the impact that religion can have on facilitating mental health. It also describes how religion can be utilized in clinical practice and integrated into psychotherapeutic approaches to older patients. The book brings religious professionals current knowledge of the major psychological problems that older adults face and how religion can be used to help alleviate these problems.Full of pertinent information, Aging and God addresses theoretical aspects of human development, focusing on cognitive, moral, and religious faith development examines situations and disorders of particular concern to older persons and looks at how religion can be used as a resource  applies research findings to the problem of meeting the spiritual and mental health needs of elders with chronic or acute health problems provides an in-depth look at end-of-life issues such as physician-assisted suicideHospital and nursing home chaplains will find this book informative and encouraging, as will gerontologists, hospital administrators, and community clergy faced with increasingly older congregations. It gives mental health professionals new strategies to help improve the later years of older adults, and makes an excellent text for courses on religion, mental health, and aging. Middle-aged and older adults, as well as their families, will also find Aging and God enjoyable and inspiring as they attempt to grapple with the myriad adjustment and coping problems associated with aging.

Designed for professionals working with the elderly, this text provides comprehensive coverage of the ageing process and its effects on mental health.... It sets out the nature and problems of old age, including the problems of older people in their families, and explores some of the common emotional problems and psychiatric disorders which can affect the elderly. It also outlines the evaluation, treatment and prevention of some common effects of ageing. There is specific coverage of race, ethnicity, gender, crime, alcoholism and physical disabilities, including deafness and blindness.

This fully revised and updated second edition provides a complete introduction to aging and mental health for psychology students taking courses in... aging as well as for academics and practitioners working in the field of gerontology. Offers a comprehensive review of models of mental health and mental illness, along with their implications for treatment of older adultsProvides a pragmatic analysis of assessment and treatment approaches that both students and practitioners will find usefulUses case studies to link theory and practiceFully updated to include discussion of the development and implementation of evidence-based treatment protocols in the field of mental health; the increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment and an appreciation of its implications for a variety of functional behaviors; and a changing understanding of long-term care away from a focus on institutional care and toward a broader spectrum of services

Updated and substantially revised, the second edition of Aging and Older Adulthood reflects the most current scientific research and theoretical... foundations that contribute to our understanding of aging and older adulthood. Updated content and references include recent neurological findings on brain structure and functioning as well as factors that influence cognitive functioning, health care, decision making, and social relationshipsChapter opening vignettes engage students with real world illustrations of older adults, which relate to the concepts to comeApplying Research boxes offer examples of current research findings that can be applied to the everyday lives of older adultsUnderstanding Aging boxes highlight phenomena, such as “sundown syndrome” and “end-of-life desires,” which provide a deeper insight into the aging processIntegrated themes of diversity, environmental influences on aging, and applications to everyday life relate the story of aging more directly to key conceptsNew Chapter 13 explores what older adulthood may look like in the future and ties together the author’s theoretical framework with views on positive agingInstructor's Manual with Test Bank and PowerPoint slides available online at www.wiley.com/go/erber

Social work practitioners must be aware of the many factors influencing the independence, participation in society, care, self-fulfillment, and dignity... of the aged. Using the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, this book frames the critical issues facing the social work profession. This timely volume brings together a wide-reaching collection of 31 articles about aging into one unique resource. It offers theory, research, and case studies about the needs, issues, and challenges faced by the senior population. This vibrant collection signals the start of a new discussion about seniors and the role of social work in meeting their diverse needs. Special Features * Compiles insightful articles about wide-ranging issues of aging * Introduces the United Nations' perspective about aging in society and its intergenerational effects * Illustrates the crucial role social work practitioners have in meeting the diverse needs of the aging population * Drives home the many issues related to aging, including health, finance, public policy, family dynamics, caregiving, retirement, and death and dying * Considers race, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status, and familial obligations and their relationship to aging issues * Paves the way for future discussion and additional research about agingAlso available:Perspectives On Productive Aging: Social Work With The New Aged - ISBN 0871013622Humane Managed Care? - ISBN 0871012944NASW Press NASW Press, a division of National Association of Social Workers (NASW), is a leading scholarly press in the social sciences. We serve faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad. Known for attracting expert authors, the NASW Press delivers professional information to hundreds of thousands of readers through its scholarly journals, books, and reference works.Some of the areas we publish in include:-Social work in the field of aging-Models of social work-Social work with children and adolescents-Ethics in social work-Community organization-Professional development

Explore the spiritual dimensions of aging through science, theory, and practice!During the later years of life, many people devote energy to a process... of spiritual awakening and self-discovery. Yet their family, friends, clergy, and the helping professionals who work with them are not always prepared to understand or deal with the spiritual concerns of their clients. Aging and Spirituality provides a unique, far-reaching overview of this long-neglected field.Divided into four independent but interwoven sections, this landmark book covers the spiritual realm with scientific rigor and deep human understanding. Aging and Spirituality comprehensively surveys the issues of spirituality, from the groundwork of basic definitions to detailed assessments of the role spirituality plays in the lives of the elderly and suggested directions for further research. This book's unique approach combines scholarly research and practical nuts-and-bolts suggestions for service delivery. By drawing from many disciplines and professions, it offers fresh perspectives to even those practitioners already familiar with the most effective spiritual techniques their own field can offer. Aging and Spirituality answers such common questions as: What are the spiritual needs of people later in life? Is there any solid evidence that prayer changes things? How is spirituality related to physical and mental health? Does spirituality matter when people know they are dying? How can we measure spiritual wellness and assess the outcomes of activities intended to enhance it? Will attention to spirituality aggravate or alleviate the losses--of friends, family, health, youth--that so often occur during old age?Aging and Spirituality provides a much-needed resource for health care professionals, clergy, social workers, and counselors working with geriatric clients. By integrating spiritual issues into the theoretical framework of social gerontology, Aging and Spirituality will help you understand the scientific foundations, practical applications, and public policy implications of spirituality for older adults.

This is a gerontology text that takes a life course approach, highlighting current public policy issues pertaining to ageing, and integrating coverage... of topics and issues relating to class, race and gender.

This groundbreaking text is the first to take a life course perspective, examining the relationship between the quality of one's life in old age and... one’s experiences, earlier choices, opportunities, and constraints. The text gives students a broad background for understanding current policy debates through a distinctive chapter entitled "Old Age and the Welfare State" (Chapter 11) and through boxed essays in every chapter called "An Issue for Public Policy." Each chapter also includes a box called "In Their Own Words" that allows older people to describe their own experiences. In addition, coverage of race, class, gender, and culture is integrated throughout and featured in the "Diversity in the Aging Experience" sections.

Aging and the Life Course is a comprehensive interdisciplinary text in social gerontology. It provides students with a firm grounding in methodological... and theoretical issues associated with aging and examines changes in social roles, relationships and the biological and psychological process that occur as people grow older. It also considers all major life transitions including retirement, widowhood, grandparenting, and changes in living arrangements. In addition, this text considers the economic and political issues that influence the context in which people grow old. Although the primary focus is on the U.S., considerable material on aging worldwide is included. Unique features include four featured boxes, a life course perspective and an emphasis on inequality by race, ethnicity and gender.