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Older people's mental health today: a handbook -- Contents -- Contributors -- Introduction -- Part 1: Mental health and well-being of older people -- Chapter 1: Old age and mental health in the context of the life span: what are the key issues in the 21st century? -- Chapter 2: Mental health and well-being in later life: definitions and determinants -- Chapter 3: Addressing the challenges to mental health and well-being in later life -- Chapter 4: What do you expect at your age? -- Part 2: Care and support of older people with mental health problems -- Chapter 5: The older people's mental health legal and policy framework -- Chapter 6: Working with older people who have dementia -- Chapter 7: Depression and anxiety in later life: making visible the invisible -- Chapter 8: Older people with lifelong mental health problems -- Chapter 9: Older people, suicide and self-harm -- Chapter 10: Involving families, carers and friends of older people with mental health problems -- Chapter 11: Integrating health and social care -- Chapter 12: Person-centred care and recovery -- Chapter 13: Involving older people in service planning, development and evaluation -- Chapter 14: Housing: the backdrop to good mental health and well-being in later life -- Chapter 15: Dignity in care of older people with mental health problems -- Chapter 16: Adult protection and risk among older people with mental health problems -- Chapter 17: Mental health, palliative care for older people and end of life care.

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to describe the findings from a research project that explored the mental health experiences and expectations of the so-called "baby boomer" population born between 1946 and 1955 who are now moving into later life.


Design/methodology/approach
– The research combined primary and secondary research, and a panel of experts. The primary research was both quantitative and qualitative.


Findings
– Findings covered issues of identity, health and wellbeing, family and relationships, work, occupation, retirement and financial security, as well as key implications for policy makers, opinion formers and decision makers.


Research limitations/implications
– The "baby boomer" cohort is extremely large and to provide definitive findings on such a wide range of aspects that potentially influence their mental health requires a much larger study than this as well as one that focuses on particular sub-groups of this cohort. It also raises the question of similarities and differences between this cohort and the second wave of baby boomers born between the late 1950s and early 1960s.


Originality/value
– This is an important piece of research, drawing together a wide range of resources and data to provide a unique overview of a key dimension of health for this group in the population which because of their numbers as well as perceived shared life experiences will be of great interest to policy makers, academics and the media, as well as members of this population cohort and people who have an interest in them.

Report ; The Dementia Engagement & Empowerment Project (DEEP) var et ettårig prosjekt knyttet til å øke brukermedvirkningen blant mennesker som var rammet av demens i England. Prosjektet besto av flere deler: • Kartleggingsundersøkelse, litteratursøk, spørreskjema og intervju for å samle inn mest mulig informasjon om grupper og prosjektene over hele England som enten ble ledet av, eller involverte, brukere med demens i utforming av tjenester/ politiske retningslinjer. • En nasjonal sammenkomst for å samle grupper med mennesker med demens for å diskutere funnene i undersøkelsene, og se på mulighetene til å danne et nasjonalt nettverk. • En publisert rapport og en film som ville beskrive aktivitetene, kunnskapen og informasjonen som skjedde gjennom undersøkelsene og den overnevnte sammenkomsten. • En utvidet referansegruppe, bestående av mennesker med demens, for å sikre at de grunnleggende verdiene i DEEP var relevante, meningsfulle og skapt av brukerne selv. Prosjektet var et samarbeid mellom flere sentrale parter på fagfeltet i England ( se nærmere s.4 i rapporten). Rapporten beskriver funn fra dette prosjektet. ; Joseph Rowtree Foundation

2009 should be seen as the year for making real progress in the development of services for older people with dementia, as well as services for older people with other mental health problems. It is also likely to herald the beginning of major challenges to ensure that resources are available to support that development. In our first article, Toby Williamson reports on the publication of the national dementia strategy for England, together with other important developments and the challenges. He also describes some initiatives that have important links to dementia care and the future of mental health services for older people.

With the numbers of older men increasing as the population ages, it is not only important to get a better understanding of their health and social care needs, but equally as important to challenge the perceptions that exist of who they are and how they relate to the world. Nowhere is this more important than in relation to their emotional health and well‐being. In this article, Toby Williamson looks at some of these challenges and describes a Mental Health Foundation project that is attempting to address these issues.

In the last couple of years, the government has made dementia a policy priority and 2008 has seen the publication of the first ever national dementia strategy for England. Here, Toby Williamson describes the challenge posed by dementia in that context, but also reports on some initiatives that give a voice to people with dementia, partly to challenge some of the ways that dementia is referred to, and to improve their lives in quite practical ways.

Our first two articles drew attention to how our changing demographics are influencing housing services. Here, in the context of a disappearing retirement age and the growing clout of the baby boomer generation, Toby Williamson discusses whether delivering services that are defined by age is really the best option for all.

People want to die at home, not in a health or care setting, but in an environment they love and cherish. This is the people's choice. Ahead of the government's forthcoming End of Life strategy, Toby Williamson comments on this new focus on 'a good death' and explores what the strategy may hold and its implications.

2007 marks a major step forward in the history of adult protection with the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act in England and Wales. Understandably, debates about adult protection have usually focused on the more obvious types of abuse ‐ sexual, physical, financial and emotional. The Mental Capacity Act addresses a much wider issue of abuse where a person's right to make their own decisions, and to have proper safeguards and protection if decisions need making on their behalf, is overridden or ignored. This article gives an overview of the Mental Capacity Act and its relevance to the files of adult protection.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 comes into effect in England and Wales in 2007. The Act contains principles, procedures and safeguards to empower people to make decisions for themselves wherever possible, but also to ensure that decisions made on their behalf if they lack the mental capacity to make the decision themselves are done in their best interests. The Act will apply to anyone working in the supported housing field or residential care where residents may lack the capacity to make decisions as a result of illness, injury or disability. This article gives an overview of the Mental Capacity Act and its relevance to the field of supported housing.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the mapping processes and lessons learned in a project to scope the user involvement activity of groups of people with dementia across the UK.Design/methodology/approachData was gathered using a mapping questionnaire designed with help from people with dementia, in‐depth interviews and through a filming process at two national events. A total of 32 groups completed the main questionnaire and five groups were interviewed.FindingsThe collective voice of people with dementia is at a relatively early stage. Groups are at different stages on their journeys and many (completely understandably) prioritise peer support, and local rather than national action. But user‐led groups are growing in number and confidence. They ask for support in capacity‐building, networking and learning from each other so they can increase their influence over attitudes, policy and services.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper relies on self reports from groups the authors were able to identify.Originality/valueResearch that looks at the mechanisms that support the involvement of people with dementia is still in its infancy. This paper combines data and findings from a wide range of groups to provide recommendations about how to improve the involvement of people with dementia.