Practical Psychiatry in the Long-Term Care Home: A Handbook for Staff » (REV)

This is a practical book, aimed at providing training and guidance for staff members in long-term care facilities. The goal is to help staff understand and solve the wide range of psychiatric and behavioral problems which are encountered on a day-to-day basis. Numerous clinical Illustrations are presented.

This material is invaluable for all team members: nurses, physicians, social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists. It is especially helpful for frontline health care aides who work most closely with the residents, and for supervisors and administrators. As a result, it also serves as a useful tool for teaching students. The emphasis is on training all members of the staff to provide the highest quality of care, in the most cost-effective and productive manner.

Most of the authors have worked together at Baycrest (a large university affiliated, multilevel geriatric centre, which has an international reputation for its excellence in the care of the elderly) or at other university of Toronto teaching hospitals.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Sharon G Thomas, BSN(University of Missouri-Columbia)
Description:The title of this book is accurate -- it presents practical information about an increasing population in long-term care. This third edition is an excellent handbook for different diagnoses, interventions, treatments, and potential issues surrounding this complex group of individuals. The first two were published in 1992 and 2001.
Purpose:The intention of the authors, as stated in the preface, has "always been to produce a book that is practical, understandable, clinically relevant, 'user friendly,' and as jargon-free as possible." This is a worthy challenge because residents with psychiatric diagnoses are increasing in numbers in long-term care settings, many of which have been focused on providing care for the aged. The authors have done an excellent job of meeting their goal.
Audience:This is intended for any professionals working with this population. The authors have succeeded in making it clear and understandable and the examples support the text well. A licensed staff person could use the information to develop training plans for all levels of staff, including those with no college or psychiatric background.
Features:The book covers psychiatric diagnoses one might find in any long-term care setting. This edition includes new relevant topics including alcohol use, sexual behavior, group psychotherapy, and guidelines. The authors do a wonderful job of supporting the detailed text with case illustrations, examples of approaches, and recommendations. The authors examine organizational and system issues. Each chapter begins with a list of key points and ends with references and suggested readings. The book is very well organized and is free of any real shortcomings.
Assessment:As with any area of study, the field of mental health has jargon that is confusing to persons not intimately involved in the area. This book avoids that pitfall and is easy to read and apply to real-life situations. The supportive illustrations/examples are clearly written and identify practical approaches. This edition includes new data and I would expect there will be future editions to support continuing changes in the industry.

Foreword Ira R. Katz v

Preface ix

Acknowledgments x

Contributors xi

Chapter 1 Mental Health Issues in Long-Term Care Facilities David K. Conn 1

Chapter 2 The Mental Status Examination Barbara Schogt Dmytro Rewilak 17

Chapter 3 Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias Nathan Herrmann Robert Madan 37

Chapter 4 Delirium Barbara Schogt David Myron 57

Chapter 5 Mood and Anxiety Disorders David K. Conn Alanna Kaye 79

Chapter 6 The Suicidal Resident David K. Conn Alanna Kaye 103

Chapter 7 The Suspicious Resident Barbara Schogt 121

Chapter 8 The Resident with Personality Disorder Anne Robinson Barbara Schogt 139

Chapter 9 Alcohol Use and Misuse Ken Schwartz 155

Chapter 10 Sexuality and Sexual Behavior Ken Schwartz David Myran Marcia Sokolowski 169

Chapter 11 Principles of Geriatric Psychopharmacoldgy Nathan Herrmann 183

Chapter 12 Optimizing the Use of Psychotropic Medications David K- Conn 203

Chapter 13 Behavior Management Strategies Dmytro Rewilak 217

Chapter 14 Psychotherapy for the Institutionalized Elderly Joel Sadavoy 239

Chapter 15 Groups and Group Psychotherapy Ken Schwartz 257

Chapter 16 Guidelines for the Assessment and Treatment of Mental Health Issues David K. Conn Maggie Gibson 267

Chapter 17 Planning Mental Health Educational Programs Susan Lieff Ivan Silver 279

Chapter 18 Helping the Nursing Staff: The Role of the Psychogeriatric Nurse Consultant Alanna Kaye Anne Robinson 289

Chapter 19 Understanding and Helping the Family Etta Ginsberg-McEwan Anne Robinson 299

Chapter 20 Legal and Ethical Dimensions Michel Silberfeld 311

Index 323