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book reviews Rehabilitation of Older People A handbook for the multi-disciplinary team

edited by Amanda J Squires. Chapman and Hall, London, 2nd edn, 1996 (ISBN 0 412 71930 4). Illus. 303 pages. f18.99.

This is an informative, relevant and extremely interesting book. As the need for rehabilitation of older people continues t o increase, its wide base of %information empha- sises the value of multi-disciplinary teamwork.

This book is well planned and succeeds in covering all aspects of rehabilitation, from its initial intro- duction in relation to the changes in need and provision of rehabilitation to older people, to its conclusion and overview in which Amanda Squires summarises each chapter and its contribution in the total rehabilita- tion of the older person.

Both novices and experienced professionals are given an up-date on all the changes in government policy and the current emphasis towards community care. The book also allows us, through looking a t teamwork, to understand our own professional contribution within that team and where combined assessment can be used and respec- tive goal setting and outcomes can be set.

The wealth of experience that each contributor obviously has in a particular area makes this book easy to read and reinforces positive attitudes rehabilitation of older people. As a physiotherapist I found extremely informative the chapters with particular reference to physio- therapy intervention such as team working by Margaret Hastings and assessment, goal setting and outcomes by Anna Smith.

The chapters on mental state and physical performance and relevance of proper footwear are also extremely important aspects of physiotherapy intervention. Jane Stephenson’s chapter on phys- iotherapy with older people sum- marises well our role within the multi-disciplinary team.

This book gives a very thorough and easy-to-read guide t o all the components of the multi-discipli-

nary team. All students and new staff coming into rehabilitation of older people should be encouraged. to read this handbook to give them a knowledge of all the professional roles within this area of rehabilita- tion. More senior staff already established within older rehabilita- tion will also enjoy reading it and agree with Amanda Squires in her summary that successful rehabilita- tion of older people will be based on timely and appropriate response t o their needs and those of their carers,

Referred to as a handbook for the multi-disciplinary team, this book is well titled, and I think it should be an essential on the bookshelf of all professionals working within the rehabilitation programme of older people.

J M C McClintock MCSP

Slings to Accompany Mobile Domestic Hoists An evaluation

by The Medical Devices Agency, (Disability Equipment Assessment AO), Room 2/F05, Crown Buildings, Kingston By-pass, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 5QN. 1994. Illus. 28 pages. f35.

This report was produced to eval- uate a representative sample of slings for use with mobile domestic hoists, t o describe the advantages and disadvantages of the tested slings, and to give advice on the appropriate selection and pres- cription of ^slings to accompany individual hoists.

This report joins other assessing disability equipment published by the Medical Devices Agency - and like others is full of helpful advice for users or potential users and their professional and non-profes- sional carers.

The different styles and types of slings available are described, and the test results cover ease of opera- tion, comfort in use, support provided, effectiveness, and design comments. The test results are taken from a panel of users (carers) and occupants (patients) who had the slings on trial.

The study was carried out between 1990 and 1992 so, as with all manual handling equipment, the actual slings described have been superseded by updated versions.

However, the basic information on use and guidelines on selection are still valid. Copies of the report should be available in hospital or trust libraries. If not, copies may be obtained on request from the Medical Devices Agency.

Those who are not NHS employ- ees may buy the report for S35.

Penny Slade.MCSP

My Angel by Jane Kohle. Twisterella Books, PO Box 3616, London E2 SLN, 1997 (ISBN 1 901483 00 2). 11 1 pages. €6.99.

With an emetic title, a Disneyland- sounding publisher, designed by The Dream Team (what design?) and a baby heroine afflicted with the name Jordan Marie Kohle- Stephens, this would seem a book to avoid.

However, the sub-title gives a better idea of its content: ‘The story of a mother and her seriously ill child’. The author states two good reasons for publishing: to encourage parents of healthy children to appreciate how lucky they are, and to show those caring for terminally ill babies that they are not alone. One could add a third - to suggest t o health care workers some ways to empathise with their very ill patients’ parents.

Jordan was more fortunate than many sick children; her first two years were ‘normal’ and she died only 16 weeks after diagnosis of a brain tumour. Her mother comes across as very human; devastated by her daughter’s condition but able even during the last days to appre- ciate a hairdo, a new dress - and a bottle of vodka.

There is not much clinical inform- ation for physiotherapists in this small book, nor is there meant to be, but a quick reading might help in understanding the emotions, frus- trations and practical problems of some parents facing an inevitable

JW bereavement.

Physiotherapy, May 1997, vol 83, no 5