Book Reviews
Long-term caring: Residential, home and community aged care (2nd edn)
By Karen Scott, Margaret Webb and Sheila Sorrentino
ISBN: 978-072953959-3; 2010; Mosby Elsevier, Sydney NSW;
Reviewed by Maria Fedoruk
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide SA
This edition of Long term caring - residential, home and community care is a comprehensive text targeting students preparing to work as care assistants in the aged care sector in Australia and New Zealand. The books trans-Tasman focus contextualises the content well, especially in the first five chapters making the text an interesting read for students. The content is contemporary and addresses the key issues facing the Aged Care & Long Term sectors on both sides of the Tasman. The chapter on legal and ethical aspects of working in this sector is done particularly well. While chapter 3 deals with the legal and ethical aspects of care and chapter 12 deals with working in a safe environment there does not appear to be anything about caring for the carers in terms of work life balance; how to deal with work related stress and bullying in the work place. In reality these factors link to Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare policy and therefore should be included.
Each chapter is detailed and the use of 'safety alerts', 'information boxes' and 'case studies' and other cuing mechanisms in each chapter breaking the written text up drawing the reader's attention to key issues relating to the chapter subject matter. The chapters are easy to read and the concepts presented in a 'user- friendly' 'easy to understand' way. The chapter on cultural sensitivity and Australian Indigenous care requirements and provision covers the key issues in a sensitive and informative way.
The chapter headings are sequenced logically and would provide a framework for the designing a course/course module by educational instructors. Prospective students will also find the text an easy read because as well as the cuing mechanisms; the use of photographs and drawings to explain activities is done well. However, the number of learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, while concise and written in outcome focused terms, is variable, some chapters having 17 objectives and others less than 7. This is only a small point and the authors may have felt that the chapter content warranted the number of learning objectives. The question is how best can the achievement of these learning objectives be assessed- the review questions at the end of chapter would be one way. The use of key terms at the beginning of each chapter will help students engage with the chapter content especially students from Non English Speaking Backgrounds(NESB).
Overall, this is a well presented and comprehensive text book which is easy to read and should provide a sound basis for developing and teaching a course in aged and long term care to potential care assistants. The support materials from Elsevier will be an invaluable aid to instructors.
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