Main description:

Redfern's Nursing Older People provides accessible, evidence-based information for nurses, care assistants and other health professionals wanting to improve the quality of health and social care for older people.

Republished for the first time since 2006, this fifth edition has been comprehensively revised and rewritten by a large team of expert contributors, while preserving the person-centred spirit of earlier editions. It applies best evidence in straightforward and practical ways to the demographic, physical, psychological, social and emotional challenges of ageing, with a focus on supporting independence and health maintenance.

With new contributions covering emerging challenges such as understanding frailty and the use of digital technology, and the themes of diversity, service-user perspectives and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic woven throughout, Redfern's Nursing Older People is essential reading to help nurses shape practice, improve outcomes and promote opportunities for ageing well.

Written by a team of 68 specialists and experts drawn from the fields of nursing, social sciences, gerontology and healthcare practice
Covers the latest evidence, policy and nursing practice
Focus on nursing-led solutions for improving activities of daily living, independence and preventing common problems of ageing
Accessible to all, with stories, case studies and lived experience to bring material to life
Summaries and learning points support learning around complex problems
Emphasis on countering ageism using images and wider literature where appropriate

All chapters either extensively rewritten or completely new
New chapters on frailty, the misuse of alcohol as a growing problem in old age, digital technology, and nursing older people with intellectual disabilities
Core themes of gerontology embedded throughout, such as assessment and rehabilitation
Impact of COVID-19 embedded throughout

Contents:

Introduction SECTION 1: AGEING AND OLD AGE What is old age? Demographic and epidemiological trends in ageing The psychology of human ageing The biology of human ageing SECTION 2: POLICY CHANGE AND CONTEXTS OF CARE Policy developments in the organization of support for older people Health and social care for older people in the community Nursing older people in hospital Intermediate and long-term care provision for older people SECTION 3: NURSING OLDER PEOPLE: INDEPENDENCE, AUTONOMY AND SELF-FULFILMENT Communication challenges and skills Hearing Eyesight and older people Promoting safe mobility Care of the foot Breathing Eating and drinking Eliminating Maintaining body temperature Maintaining healthy skin Sleep and rest Sexuality and relationships in later life Pain and older people Delirium (acute confusional states) in later life Person-centred dementia care Depression in older people Dying, bereavement and loss Drugs and older people SECTION 4: CURRENT ISSUES AND REFLECTIONS ON CARING FOR OLDER PEOPLE Assessment of older people Health care for older homeless people Health promotion for older people Complementary therapies Abuse of older people Carers and lay caring Reflections