Social work and people with dementia

Mary Marshall has recently retired as director of the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling. She is the author of numerous books on work with older people and older people with dementiaMargaret-Anne Tibbs was a specialist social worker with dementia in Bedfordshire. She is author of Social Work and Dementia (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2001) and is now a freelance consultant/trainer in dementia care.

• Contents: Introduction; Part 1: The new culture of dementia care: Introduction; Old culture; New culture; Part 2: The context: Introduction; Demographics; What is dementia?; Policy and legal context; Part 3: The experience of dementia: Introduction; Personhood; Physical health; The way the person is treated by others; Continuum of mistreatment through malig. social psychology to abuse; Behaviour with others find difficult; Emotional needs; Dilemmas; Citizenship; Part 4: Communication: Introduction; Communicating with people with dementia; Communicating with carers; Communicating with colleagues; Communicating with the public; Part 5: Obtaining practical help: Introduction; Diagnosis; Assessment; Care management; Claiming benefits; Advocacy; Part 6: The care environment: Introduction; Design; Modern technology; Food; Activities; Part 7: Making it work: Service development; Staff support; Personal survival; Training; Part 8: Therapy: Introduction; Behaviour management; Internal influences; External influences; Factors in the world at large; How do we decide which we opt for?; Counseling; Counseling poeple with dementia; Counseling carers; Counseling paid staff; Group work; Family therapy; Part 9: The future: Introduction; Listen to people and their carers; Give dementia care the status it deserves; Embrace the new culture of dementia care; Don't allow a split to develop between health and social care professionals; The focus of the caring organizations should be on the 'front-line'; Specialization; The law; Public awareness; Conclusion.

"There has always been a shortage of material which gives enough attention to social work with people with dementia and this book fills an important gap. Mary Marshall and Margaret Anne Tibbs provide a comprehensive overview covering such diverse areas as the rise of the new culture of dementia care, the potential role for new technology and policy and legislative changes such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005. I particularly liked the chapter on communication which goes to the heart of creating partnerships with people with dementia and their families. Other sections, such as the care environment and diagnosis, will be invaluable for social workers practising in the changing world of health and social care provision." Jo Moriarty, King's College London, UK