Paul Higgs is Professor of the Sociology of Ageing at University College London. He has published widely on the changing nature of later life and is a co-editor of the journal 'Social Theory and Health'. Paul is also a fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America.Chris Gilleard is Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath and the Division of Psychiatry at UCL. He has published in the areas of psychology, medicine, history and sociology as they relate to ageing and old age. He is also a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

• Introduction;Part 1;Advanced old and the fourth age paradigm;Defining personhood and identity;Understanding frailty;Understanding abjection;Part 2;Cognitive, Emotional and Social Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Organisational and Policy Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Carework and bodywork;Care and the Limits of Personhood;Conclusion.

"Offers a critical reflection on the central scientific, practitioner and policy perspectives on the oldest old, and as such addresses one of the key social issues of our time." Kevin McKee, Dalarna University, Sweden "Addresses in a frank, confronting and yet respectful way, the dilemmas faced by all people dealing with advanced old age." Carolien Smits, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Paul Higgs is Professor of the Sociology of Ageing at University College London. He has published widely on the changing nature of later life and is a co-editor of the journal 'Social Theory and Health'. Paul is also a fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America.Chris Gilleard is Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath and the Division of Psychiatry at UCL. He has published in the areas of psychology, medicine, history and sociology as they relate to ageing and old age. He is also a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

• Introduction;Part 1;Advanced old and the fourth age paradigm;Defining personhood and identity;Understanding frailty;Understanding abjection;Part 2;Cognitive, Emotional and Social Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Organisational and Policy Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Carework and bodywork;Care and the Limits of Personhood;Conclusion.

"Offers a critical reflection on the central scientific, practitioner and policy perspectives on the oldest old, and as such addresses one of the key social issues of our time." Kevin McKee, Dalarna University, Sweden "Addresses in a frank, confronting and yet respectful way, the dilemmas faced by all people dealing with advanced old age." Carolien Smits, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

Paul Higgs is Professor of the Sociology of Ageing at University College London. He has published widely on the changing nature of later life and is a co-editor of the journal 'Social Theory and Health'. Paul is also a fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America.Chris Gilleard is Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath and the Division of Psychiatry at UCL. He has published in the areas of psychology, medicine, history and sociology as they relate to ageing and old age. He is also a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

• Introduction;Part 1;Advanced old and the fourth age paradigm;Defining personhood and identity;Understanding frailty;Understanding abjection;Part 2;Cognitive, Emotional and Social Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Organisational and Policy Aspects of Caring for Frail Old People;Carework and bodywork;Care and the Limits of Personhood;Conclusion.

"Offers a critical reflection on the central scientific, practitioner and policy perspectives on the oldest old, and as such addresses one of the key social issues of our time." Kevin McKee, Dalarna University, Sweden "Addresses in a frank, confronting and yet respectful way, the dilemmas faced by all people dealing with advanced old age." Carolien Smits, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands