Aged Care
Old Policies, New Problems

This important 1998 book examines issues and policy responses at national, international and conceptual levels.

Diane Gibson (Author)

9780521559577, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 January 1998

266 pages, 3 b/w illus. 17 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

The ageing of the population is a demographic phenomenon, a social problem and a policy issue. The increase in the numbers of aged and in the costs of supporting and caring for them have also brought increases in family care, in deinstitutionalisation of aged care services and in issues of quality and outcomes of care and consumer rights. The growing recognition of the feminisation of ageing also has significant social and policy consequences. In this 1998 book, Diane Gibson synthesises a wide range of material to provide an overview of these issues and policy responses worldwide. The book then looks in-depth at Australia, a country typical in the problems it faces, and a world leader in many of its solutions. Gibson also offers a more conceptual examination of theoretical implications and practical consequences. She elucidates debates in ways which will set new standards for aged care policy and practice worldwide.

Part I. What's the Problem?: 1. The issues
2. The Australian policy response
Part II. What's the Practice?: 3. De-institutionalisation and the aged care reform strategy
4. The feminisation of ageing
5. Regulating the quality of care
6. Implementing user rights strategies
Part III. Reconceptualising Problems, Reorienting Solutions: 7. The 'problem of old women' redefined
8. The Gordian knot: Defining outcomes
9. Whose rights? Whose responsibility?
10. The problem of dependency: Construction and reconstruction
11. New problems, old solutions.

Subject Areas: Central government policies [JPQB], Care of the elderly [JKSG], Population & demography [JHBD], Biography: historical, political & military [BGH]