Community Resources for Older Adults: Programs and Services in an Era of Change / Edition 5

by Robbyn R. Wacker, Karen A. Roberto

Overview

Community Resources for Older Adults provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on programs, services, and policies pertaining to older adults. Authors Robbyn R. Wacker and Karen A. Roberto build reader awareness of programs and discuss how to better understand help-seeking behavior, as well as explain ways to take advantage of the resources available to older adults. The substantially revised Fifth Edition includes new topics and updated research, tables, and figures to help answer key questions about the evolution and utilization of programs for older adults and the challenges that service providers face.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506383965
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	07/19/2018
Edition description:	Fifth Edition
Pages:	616
Product dimensions:	7.38(w) x 9.12(h) x (d)

About the Author

Robbyn R. Wacker, Ph.D., is the Provost and Senior Vice President and Professor of Gerontology at the University of Northern Colorado. Her research interests include international aging social policy and psychosocial predictors of community service use among older adults. She has published over 65 refereed presentations, scholarly articles, books, and conference proceedings and has earned numerous university and professional awards, including UNC’s Academic Leadership Excellence Award.

Karen A. Roberto, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Gerontology, Founding Director of the Institute of Society, Culture, and Environment, and Professor of Human Development at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She also holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She has published over 150 scholarly articles and book chapters, is the editor/author of ten books, and has earned numerous university and professional awards, including the Gerontological Society of America Behavioral and Social Science Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award

Table of Contents

The Authors’ Purpose
Acknowledgments
PART I THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE DELIVERY
Chapter 1 On the Threshold of a New Era
Growth of the Older Population
Growth of the Older Population of Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Growth in the Number of Older Adults Living Alone
Growth in the Number of LGBT Older Adults
Implications of Demographic Characteristics for Community Resources
A Text About Programs and Services in an Era of Change
Organization of the Book
Chapter 2 Legislative Foundations for Programs, Services, and Benefits Supporting Older Adults
Legislative Foundations of Social Programs and Services
Emergence of the Aging Network
Titles of the Older Americans Act
Funding for the Older Americans Act
Outcomes of the Older Americans Act
Chapter 3 Patterns of Service Use and Theories of Help-Seeking Behavior
Social Support and Care for Older Adults
Informal and Formal Interaction
Psychosocial Theories of Service Use
The Psychology of Help-Seeking Behavior
Application of Theory in Practice
PART II THE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES
Chapter 4 Information and Assistance
Policy Background
Across the Globe: I&R/A in Scotland: The Age Scotland’s Helpline
Users and Programs
Characteristics of Programs
Developing and Maintaining a Resource Database
Promotion of Information and Referral/Assistance Services
Information and Referral/Assistance Process
Information and Referral/Assistance Services With a National Scope
Challenges for Information and Referral Services
Chapter 5 Volunteer and Intergenerational Programs
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Intergenerational Programs
Challenges for Volunteer and Intergenerational Programs
Chapter 6 Education Programs
Educational Level of Older Adults
Lifelong Education
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Educational Programs
Chapter 7 Senior Centers and Recreation
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Barriers to Senior Center Participation
Models of Senior Centers
Programs Offered at Senior Centers
Addressing Diversity
Challenges for Senior Centers
Chapter 8 Employment Programs
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Older Workers and Employment Programs
Chapter 9 Income Programs
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Income Programs
Chapter 10 Nutrition and Meal Programs
Nutritional Status Among Older Adults
Physical and Psychosocial Factors That Influence Nutritional Status
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Nutrition Programs
Chapter 11 Health Care and Wellness
Health Status of Older Adults
Federal Health Care Policy
Health Promotion and Wellness
Challenges for Health Care and Health Promotion Programs
Chapter 12 Mental Health Services
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Geriatric Mental Health Workforce
Challenges for Mental Health Programs
Chapter 13 Legal Services
Policy Background
Users: Legal Problems of Older Adults
Legal Assistance Programs
Challenges for Legal Programs and Services
Chapter 14 Transportation
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Transportation Programs
Chapter 15 Housing
The Person–Environment Fit Model
Users and Programs: Independent Living Environments
Challenges for Independent Living Programs
Supportive Living Environments
Challenges for Supportive Living Environments
Chapter 16 Caregiver Support Services
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Challenges for Caregiver Support Programs and Services
Chapter 17 Care Management
Policy Background
Users and Programs
Care Management Programs
Challenges for Care Management Programs
Chapter 18 Home Care Services
Home Care
Challenges for Home Health Care
Hospice
Challenges for Hospice
Chapter 19 Long-Term Care Services
Policy Background
Payment for Nursing Home Care
Users and Programs
Long-Term Care Facilities
Staffing Patterns
Activity Programs
Improving Quality of Life in Nursing Homes
Challenges for Nursing Homes in the Future
PART III PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Chapter 20 Programs and Services in an Era of Change
Social and Political Influences on Aging Policies and Programs
Challenges for the Older Americans Act
Serving a New Generation of Older Adults: Planning for 21st-Century Aging
References
Index
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Community resources available to elderly Americans, including both public and private programs, are overviewed, theories on service use are discussed, and case studies that encourage critical thinking about the delivery and use of community services are presented in this book for professionals and students. Empirical literature in different program areas is reviewed, and legislation that provides the foundation for programs is explained. This second edition includes updated information on various programs and services such as the Older Americans Act, plus updated best practices and Web resources. Wacker is associate dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences and professor of gerontology at the University of Northern Colorado. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"This book is designed for an audience of American students and practitioners. However, readers from other countries might also appreciate the discussion on the continuum of services and the excellent examples of best practices, which provide many ideas for program development and delivery. "

Canadian Journal on Aging, 23 (3), pgs. 299-300 - Fran Racher