Working and Caring for the Elderly: International Perspectives

ANNOTATION

The book contains no figures.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Families throughout the world are experiencing unprecedented changes in their domestic and employment responsibilities, namely, more women work than ever before, and more elders are in need of care from their family members.
This book examines how eleven geographically dispersed countries in various stages of economic and social development are responding to the work-elder care dilemma: Sweden, Germany, Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Israel, Mexico, Brazil, China and Uganda. The book raises awareness of the full range of options for addressing the work-elder care challenge, and increases appreciation of the factors influencing the selection of specific options.

FROM THE CRITICS

Marquis D. Foreman

This book is an exploration of various international responses to supporting working families who care for elderly frail family members. The purpose is to examine different methods of supporting working families who care for elderly frail family members in numerous countries in various stages of economic development. The audience is never identified by the editors. Given the content, however, this book is relevant for all healthcare professionals and students. More importantly, this book is critical for those involved in such policy formation (e.g., government officials), as well as those directly affected by such policy (e.g., employers and labor unions). This text consists of 13 chapters divided into five sections. The introduction is separated by final thoughts by chapters about 11 geographically dispersed countries representing three stages of economic development (most developed, more developed, and less developed countries), and their respective responses to the changing needs and demands of employed individuals who care for elderly frail family members. Each chapter, written by a resident of that country, addresses five questions: the extent of the work-elder care dilemma; the types of policies, benefits, programs, and services that exist to assist working families engaged in providing elder care; an evaluation of these policies, benefits, programs, and services; an examination of the factors contributing to these policies, benefits, programs, and services; and lastly, the identification of any foreseeable changes affecting these policies, benefits, programs, and services. This is a very important book examining a very important global issue -- the provision of care to anever-growing population of elderly within the context of changing families, governments, and work organizations. This book presents a very open examination of the issues involved, from the perspective that there are numerous options for addressing the work-elder care dilemma. Despite various options to the dilemma, none of the countries examined in this text has an explicit government policy addressing the needs of working individuals caring for elderly frail family members. Clearly, much work remains.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Marquis D. Foreman, PhD, RN, FAAN (University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing)Description: This book is an exploration of various international responses to supporting working families who care for elderly frail family members. Purpose: The purpose is to examine different methods of supporting working families who care for elderly frail family members in numerous countries in various stages of economic development. Audience: The audience is never identified by the editors. Given the content, however, this book is relevant for all healthcare professionals and students. More importantly, this book is critical for those involved in such policy formation (e.g., government officials), as well as those directly affected by such policy (e.g., employers and labor unions). Features: This text consists of 13 chapters divided into five sections. The introduction is separated by final thoughts by chapters about 11 geographically dispersed countries representing three stages of economic development (most developed, more developed, and less developed countries), and their respective responses to the changing needs and demands of employed individuals who care for elderly frail family members. Each chapter, written by a resident of that country, addresses five questions: the extent of the work-elder care dilemma; the types of policies, benefits, programs, and services that exist to assist working families engaged in providing elder care; an evaluation of these policies, benefits, programs, and services; an examination of the factors contributing to these policies, benefits, programs, and services; and lastly, the identification of any foreseeable changes affecting these policies, benefits, programs, and services. Assessment: This is a very important book examining a very important global issue:the provision of care to an ever-growing population of elderly within the context of changing families, governments, and work organizations. This book presents a very open examination of the issues involved, from the perspective that there are numerous options for addressing the work-elder care dilemma. Despite various options to the dilemma, none of the countries examined in this text has an explicit government policy addressing the needs of working individuals caring for elderly frail family members. Clearly, much work remains.

RATING

4 Stars! from Doody

ACCREDITATION