Quality Health Care for the Elderly

A manual providing a basic training course for student nurses and other health workers in the quality health care of the elderly. Intended for use in Western Pacific countries the manual aims to meet the great need for formal care of the elderly in a part of the world where traditional family care has weakened and few health workers possess the necessary skills.

The course concentrates on information that should be incorporated into the daily clinical practice of health care facilities. The most common problems of aging are included. Details range from advice on how to create safe environments and prevent accidents through examples of exercises that help train the bladder and prevent incontinence to instructions for developing a plan of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Throughout culturally specific photographs and advice such as on the use of herbal medicine help enhance the local relevance of this well-planned teaching tool. The course is divided into twelve modules. Each provides student readings individual written exercises topics for group discussion case studies and other learning activities. Examples of multiple-choice questions for use in examinations are included for teachers.