Explains advanced techniques for assessing and intervening with psychosocial and behavioral problems in long-term care (LTC), for social workers, nurses, other professionals, and graduate students who are familiar with basics of assessment and intervention in LTC. Coverage includes the biopsychosocial model, various assessment instruments, counseling techniques, interventions for specific problems, and uses of psychiatric medications. Also discusses documentation, administrative and legal issues, and staff well-being. Paper edition, 0189-6, $22.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

Older people are entering nursing homes later and sicker than ever before, thus presenting as more physically fragile and complex residents and requiring more advanced care and treatment. To this end, Hyer and Intrieri have gathered together a group of health care professionals who are genuinely dedicated to the care and research of long-term care (LTC) environments. This group seeks to push the envelope for improved use of professional time, effort, and input and in this remarkable book, share their ideas with you. By applying the Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) model to various care settings, the editors are able to examine current LTC practices and existing psychosocial issues confronting older LTC patients; either support or challenge them; and offer suggestions and strategies, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, for improving the LTC system and residents' physical, psychological, emotional, and social health. This book provides insight on the psychological issues facing long-term care residents for a plethora of health care professionals, including: Physicians and geriatricians who care for older adults in the LTC system Nurses and geriatric nurse specialists Social workers Activity coordinators Physical, occupational, and speech therapists within an LTC setting who are seeking ways to explain behavior and empower the residents they care for Psychologists and psychiatrists whose practice focuses on older adults

"The Oxford Handbook of Geropsychology provides students and experienced clinicians and clinical researchers alike with a comprehensive and contemporary overview of developments in the field of geropsychology. Informed by an international perspective, the introductory section covers demographics, meta-analyses in geropsychology, social capital and gender, cognitive development, and ageing. Sections on assessment and formulation include chapters on interviewing older people, psychological assessment strategies, capacity and suicidal ideation, and understanding long term care environments. Psychological distress and their causes are reviewed with chapters focusing upon late-life depression and anxiety, psychosis, and personality disorders. In this section, neuropsychiatric approaches to working with older people and risk factors relating to cognitive health are reviewed. Intervention strategies covered include cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and family therapy. Interprofessional teamwork and aspects of work with persons with dementia (PwD), caregivers, and care staff, are also covered. Chapters on interventions address specific populations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older persons, people with physical and psychological comorbidities, and those experiencing grief and bereavement. Finally, this Handbook explores new horizons, including positive ageing, exercise and health promotion, and the use of new media such as online and virtual reality interactive technologies in clinical research and practice with older adults." -- From the Amazon

Mental health and substance use disorders affect approximately 20 percent of Americans and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although a wide range of evidence-based psychosocial interventions are currently in use, most consumers of mental health care find it difficult to know whether they are receiving high-quality care. Although the current evidence base for the effects of psychosocial interventions is sizable, subsequent steps in the process of bringing a psychosocial intervention into routine clinical care are less well defined. Psychosocial Interventions for Mental and Substance Use Disorders details the reasons for the gap between what is known to be effective and current practice and offers recommendations for how best to address this gap by applying a framework that can be used to establish standards for psychosocial interventions. The framework described in Psychosocial Interventions for Mental and Substance Use Disorders can be used to chart a path toward the ultimate goal of improving the outcomes. The framework highlights the need to (1) support research to strengthen the evidence base on the efficacy and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions; (2) based on this evidence, identify the key elements that drive an intervention's effect; (3) conduct systematic reviews to inform clinical guidelines that incorporate these key elements; (4) using the findings of these systematic reviews, develop quality measures - measures of the structure, process, and outcomes of interventions; and (5) establish methods for successfully implementing and sustaining these interventions in regular practice including the training of providers of these interventions. The recommendations offered in this report are intended to assist policy makers, health care organizations, and payers that are organizing and overseeing the provision of care for mental health and substance use disorders while navigating a new health care landscape. The recommendations also target providers, professional societies, funding agencies, consumers, and researchers, all of whom have a stake in ensuring that evidence-based, high-quality care is provided to individuals receiving mental health and substance use services.

Cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, but fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. This failure can compromise the effectiveness of health care and thereby adversely affect the health of cancer patients. Psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer-including depression and other emotional problems; lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life-cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients' return to health. Today, it is not possible to deliver high-quality cancer care without using existing approaches, tools, and resources to address patients' psychosocial health needs. All patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. Cancer Care for the Whole Patient recommends actions that oncology providers, health policy makers, educators, health insurers, health planners, researchers and research sponsors, and consumer advocates should undertake to ensure that this standard is met.

Social isolation and loneliness are serious yet underappreciated public health risks that affect a significant portion of the older adult population. Approximately one-quarter of community-dwelling Americans aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and a significant proportion of adults in the United States report feeling lonely. People who are 50 years of age or older are more likely to experience many of the risk factors that can cause or exacerbate social isolation or loneliness, such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and sensory impairments. Over a life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or chronic, depending upon an individual's circumstances and perceptions. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, or obesity. As older adults are particularly high-volume and high-frequency users of the health care system, there is an opportunity for health care professionals to identify, prevent, and mitigate the adverse health impacts of social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults summarizes the evidence base and explores how social isolation and loneliness affect health and quality of life in adults aged 50 and older, particularly among low income, underserved, and vulnerable populations. This report makes recommendations specifically for clinical settings of health care to identify those who suffer the resultant negative health impacts of social isolation and loneliness and target interventions to improve their social conditions. Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults considers clinical tools and methodologies, better education and training for the health care workforce, and dissemination and implementation that will be important for translating research into practice, especially as the evidence base for effective interventions continues to flourish.

The purpose of this book is to disseminate "best practice" models of treatment for the common mental health problems of late life, so that evidence-based practice will become the norm (rather than the exception) when working clinically with older adults. Each chapter contains reviews of the empirical literature focusing on studies conducted with elders; then they emphasize how CBT can be applied most effectively to that specific patient population. Case studies illuminate practice recommendations, and issues of diversity are likewise highlighted whenever possible.