Care is a diverse and evolving concept. It is taken as a natural part of life yet it is shaped by philosophical, ideological, political and economic arguments concerning its definition and purpose as well as how, where and to whom it is provided and funded.

This lucid book provides an introduction to the concept of care, mapping out and unravelling the complex debates that surround its theory and practice. Key aspects of care, such as boundaries, cultural and geographical spheres of care, the ethics of care and citizenship, are explored in full. For social workers, nurses and those engaged...

This text brings together the latest research in critical gerontology with social work knowledge to offer a new model for professional work with older people. It covers a comprehensive set of issues for today's changing care environment, with discussion ranging from frailty and dependency to interprofessional working, integrated care and anti-oppressive practice. Each chapter provides practice illustrations suitable for individual reflection or group discussion and references to further reading. With its emphasis on both accessibility and challenge, this is a core source and course companion...

Concise, accessible introduction to this expanding and interdisciplinary field of study.