A comprehensive and excellent account of how best to assess and deal with mental health issues in long-term care facilities. The authors provide authoritative recommendations and teaching points based on extensive experience. Their compassion and determined advocacy for residents and caregivers are striking and exemplary. -- John Snowdon, Clinical Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, Sydney University, and chair, Task Force on Mental Health Services in Nursing Homes and Residential Care Facilities, International Psychogeriatric Association As a geropsychiatric nurse, I particularly appreciated the balanced perspective on the value of both medication and nonpharmacologic interventions, the application of information through case studies, and the attention to social and spiritual aspects of mental health issues in later life. This book should be on the shelf of every nursing home and assisted living facility in this country. -- Kathleen C. Buckwalter, Director, The University of Iowa John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

Studies show that residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are at a substantial risk of having psychiatric disorders. This practical volume provides much-needed clinical guidance for the prevention and appropriate treatment of mental illness in long-term care settings. Abhilash K. Desai and George T. Grossberg offer a basic framework for a humanistic, team-based approach to meeting the needs of elder persons with mental disorders in long-term care facilities. Early chapters cover the demographics of residents, the epidemiology of their psychiatric symptoms, and the assessment process. Subsequent chapters focus on major disorders, including dementia, delirium, depression, psychosis, and anxiety. The authors discuss end-of-life issues and treatments and offer suggestions for improving care. Throughout, they highlight the importance of the relationship between staff and residents. Emphasizing creative engagement and hands-on care and featuring clinical vignettes and practical tips, this optimistic volume reinforces the potential for nursing homes and assisted living facilities to be communities where residents thrive.