Supporting Older People Using Attachment-Informed and Strengths-Based Approaches

The significance of attachment theory for working with older people has been overlooked, and yet its importance is clear - evident in the experiences of people who struggle to adapt to new ways of living, to life with limiting health conditions, or to new social networks.

This book explains how an understanding of attachment theory can empower health and social care staff, and improve the care of older people. It also serves as an accessible introduction to strengths-based working, covering principles and practice as well as key practice issues such as positive risk-taking, supporting people with dementia, working in end of life settings and working with whole families.

With in-depth case studies depicting a broad span of experiences and easy to use tools for practice, this practical guide serves as an essential guide for all staff supporting older adults.

This hands-on guide will help frontline workers convert this policy vision into practice.

Lydia Guthrie has a long track record of work in the criminal justice and voluntary sectors, working with adults with disabilities and socially excluded young people. After qualifying as a social worker, she worked for the Probation Service from 1998–2009 as a probation officer, group facilitator and senior probation officer. She is Co-Director with Clark Baim of Change Point Ltd., where she works as an independent trainer and consultant specialising in areas of sexual offending and domestic abuse. She also worked for 4 years as a Co-Lead National Trainer for the Sexual Offending Groupwork Programmes run by the National Probation Service.