Dying is a social experience, changing irrevocably the family and social networks around each individual who dies. Older people are a growing proportion of the population and need help to think and plan to make positive choices about this important phase of their life. Social work should help to strengthen individuals to achieve a respectful death and families to move forward in their lives. This valuable book focuses on practice interventions, advocating open communication and skilled interpersonal practice to help dying and bereaved people, their families and carers. The authors review sociological and psychological ideas about dying and bereavement, incorporating spiritual care, multi-professional practice and ethical issues likely to face social workers in end-of-life and palliative care. Important features include: a demonstration of the importance of the social work role in palliative care a firm knowledge base for social work practice with dying and bereaved people in both end-of-life and palliative care a strong focus on social processes as well as psychological and emotional responses to death and bereavement extended case examples help to develop practice skills fully 'pause and reflect' sections help students and practitioners think through their own reactions to practice with people who are dying and bereaved exploration of group and community interventions in end-of-life care an international focus, with useful further reading and website information. This book will be essential reading for students, health care workers and social workers and their managers who are working in adult services, end of life and palliative care. Read Malcolm Payne's blog at http://blogs.stchristophers.org.uk/ CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA: Copies of this title are available from Lyceum Publishing, www.lyceumbooks.com

About the Author
Margaret Reith is Senior Social Worker, and formerly social work manager at the Princess Alice Hospice, Surrey. Her extensive practice experience includes health-related social work in hospital and hospice settings and forensic mental health. She is the author of "Community Care Tragedies: A Practice Guide to Mental Health Inquiries". Malcolm Payne is Policy and Development Adviser and formerly Director of Psycho-social and Spiritual Care at St Christopher's Hospice, London. He previously worked in social services, the local and national voluntary sector and various academic posts. He is Honorary Professor, Kingston University/St George's University of London, Visiting Professor, Opole University, Poland and author of many books including "What is Professional Social Work? Social Care Practice in Context" and "Modern Social Work Theory".

Reviews
"This book has a refreshing view of end-of-life, palliative care and aftercare. Both writers are experienced practitioners and academics with an open mind - particularly for creativity - that helps ensure that the concepts covered are chronological, accessible and applicable for all who can relate to this subject." Karen Moorhouse in Community Care
"...we have in this book a valuable resource for anyone living and working with loss, by which I mean that it is essential reading for us all." Sue Taplin, Hospice Information Bulletin
"Based on up-to-date knowledge of current policy and practice, this book offers a thorough-going review of the place of social work in end of life care. This is a comprehensive text written in accessible style which will contribute significantly to raising the profile of end of life issues and care in contemporary social work." Margaret Holloway, Professor of Social Work, University of Hull



Book Information
ISBN 9781847424143
Author Margaret Reith
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Policy Press
Publisher Policy Press