The older person with anxiety
Chapter 23 THE OLDER PERSON WITH ANXIETY INTRODUCTION Anxiety is a universal and normal human experience. It has survival value when it leads an individual to avoid danger. Anxiety is…
Outcome evaluation
Chapter 36 OUTCOME EVALUATION INTRODUCTION The demonstration of quality of care requires evaluation from a number of aspects. Outcome measurement can occur at a variety of levels (government, service and…
The older person with suicidal thoughts
Chapter 21 THE OLDER PERSON WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS INTRODUCTION Some of the highest rates for suicide are found among older people, particularly men. Yet despite this fact, older people are…
Rating scales
Chapter 35 RATING SCALES INTRODUCTION Throughout this book there have been references to rating scales used to assist with assessment and to monitor and evaluate treatment. The purpose of this…
Palliative and end-of-life care
Chapter 34 PALLIATIVE AND END-OF-LIFE CARE INTRODUCTION Among all the medical advances and increased capability to cure in the last few decades, healthcare lost its way in relation to the…
Legal and ethical issues
Chapter 32 LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES INTRODUCTION The first part of this chapter deals with the legal and ethical issues that commonly confront mental health workers dealing with older people….
Psychosocial and spiritual assessment
Chapter 17 PSYCHOSOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION Psychosocial and spiritual assessments are addressed separately, but they can be interrelated in situations where active engagement and participation in spiritual experiences with…
Pharmacological treatment
Chapter 30 PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT INTRODUCTION The introduction of effective psychotropic medications in the 1950s transformed the lives of many people with mental health problems, including many older people who would…
Electroconvulsive therapy and other physical treatments
Chapter 31 ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY AND OTHER PHYSICAL TREATMENTS INTRODUCTION This chapter covers the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and other physical treatments for older people with mental health problems. While…
