Developing a Relational Model of Care for Older People

Book excerpt: Care of older people is a major issue in the UK, crossing the boundaries between emotion, practical issues and economics. Yet many current concerns, and much conventional planning, are based on outdated assumptions or misunderstandings about the nature of ageing. Woodward and Kartupelis work to shatter these myths to create new and more useful models for our society. Drawing on recent research, the book zeroes in on the nature of interpersonal relationships, their critical effect and the factors which affect their formation. The book has been inspired by the extensive work undertaken by both authors in the field of promoting the spiritual wellbeing of older people in in the UK, and brings together a diversity of expertise to propose a revolutionary new approach based on nurturing particular types of relationship. Stimulating and eminently readable, this key text will play a vital role in reimagining care for the elderly and recognising the full potential of our older population.