Retraining for the Elderly Disabled Routledge Revivals Series

Many elderly patients have long-term physical disability and in order for them to maintain a certain level of independence either in hospital or in the community, great attention must be paid to devising programmes to overcome problems and enhance residual abilities.

Originally published in 1985, the programme described in this book had developed over the previous 25 years at the Royal Newcastle Hospital in Australia. It grew in response to the practical needs of patients who, having been treated by conventional means, were left with residual disabilities to a degree that their successful return to the community was jeopardised. The retraining programme described is a problem-solving process, coordinated under one director, combined with close teamwork between staff, the patient and relatives. Throughout, attention is paid to social and psychological factors as well as physical problems, when discussing physical retraining methods involving the repetition of routine movements.

Foreword Kevin Grant. Preface. Part One: Philosophy and Administration 1. Concepts and Principles 2. The Place of Retraining in a Geriatrics Programme 3. Team-work and Leadership 4. Simplification Part Two: Programmes and Activities 5. The Overall Programme 6. Group Activities 7. Individual Activities 8. Assessment 9. Discharge Procedures Part Three: The Psychological Element 10. The Psychological Basis of Retraining 11. Motivation 12. Presentation of Retraining to the Patient 13. The ‘Difficult’ Patient Part Four: The Physical Aspects 14. Routine Retraining Methods 15. Routine Retraining ‘Drills’ 16. Routine Walking Practice 17. Some Specific Disabilities Part Five: Equipment and Materials 18. Basic Equipment 19. The Use of Equipment in Problem Solving 20. Tools and Materials. Appendices. Glossary of Terms. Index.

Margaret Mort, MBE (1918–2012) before her retirement held the position of Occupational Therapist specialising in Geriatrics at the Royal Newcastle Hospital, NSW, Australia