International Perspectives on Family Caregiving - by Selwyn Stanley (Hardcover)

About the Book

Meeting the need for a text for the academic community which recognises informal caregiving experiences, this is compelling reading for scholars of social work, health and social care, medical sociology, nursing, psychology, and counselling and allied disciplines.

Book Synopsis

There is an increased interest to turn the spotlight not only on the needs and experiences of service users, but also to understand the complexity of issues that their caregivers' experience. An informal caregiver is any relative, spouse/partner, friend or neighbour who has a significant personal relationship with and provides a broad range of assistance and care for, an adult or a child with a chronic or disabling physical or mental health condition. This edited collection provides a comprehensive read on the caregiving experience within a range of health conditions and population groups.

Framed by an introductory, the chapters focus on ten specific areas such as caring for older people, children, and young people with learning disabilities, those with mental health conditions, people requiring care because of end-stage renal conditions, cardio-vascular illness, stroke, cancer, HIV, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries. Delving into background and context; relevant theoretical frameworks; common caregiving problems/issues; the implications for the person receiving care, the implications for the caregiver, and supportive measures/recommendations to enable caregivers, International Perspectives on Family Caregiving: Informal Care for People with Vulnerabilities enables readers to gain an empathetic understanding of issues encountered by informal care providers and thus enables a basis for working with various issues encountered by them.

Meeting the need for a text for the academic community which recognises informal caregiving experiences, this is compelling reading for scholars of social work, health and social care, medical sociology, nursing, psychology, and counselling and allied disciplines.

Review Quotes

International Perspectives on Family Caregiving is a valuable text. This book covers many aspects of caregiving in a focused way, shining a light on the relationships between caregivers and cared for people. In literature, these experiences have often been overlooked. However, this publication unpacks each individual context in detail, with honesty and sensitivity. This is a great resource for academics, to obtain an understanding of the caregiving role in several settings. For the practitioner, there are valuable insights that can be used to reflexively consider one's own practice, with the aim of achieving a truly person-centred approach.

--Andy Langford, Clinical Director, Cruse Bereavement Support, UK.

As the world's population continues to grow and age, it is placing increased demand on different nations' social service provision - rendering them overstretched and poorly resourced. International Perspectives on Family Caregiving provides a timely consideration of the role that family care givers play in respect to a range of health conditions and population groups. The book offers an engaging range of chapters authored and edited by a well-sourced group of experts in the field. I am sure that the book will appeal to a wide variety of readers, including practitioners, policy makers, students, educators, and of course, family caregivers.

--Dr Ciarán Murphy, Senior Lecturer (Social Work), Edge Hill University, UK. Board Member, Trustee and Research Lead Association of Child Protection Professionals.

This book is a timely and significant contribution, effectively eliciting the varied facets of Caregiver Burden brought about by contemporary lifestyle challenges. It offers a comprehensive exploration of both the burdens and potential rewards associated with caregiving across a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. By addressing the complexity of caregiving experiences, this volume stands out as an essential resource for professionals in social work, nursing, psychology, and counselling, as well as for caregivers themselves. Its in-depth insights into caregiver stress, emotional exhaustion, and the positive aspects of caregiving make it a must-read for those in the service profession. My heartfelt appreciation to the authors and editor for their commendable effort in bringing such valuable perspectives together.

--Dr. Florence Shalini, J., Assistant Professor of Social Work, Bishop Heber College, India.

This book on International Perspectives on Family Caregiving: Informal care for people with vulnerabilities addresses an issue of great concern nationally and internationally. It explores both the negative and positive aspects of being a caregiver in a range of circumstances, which is a strength of the book. The chapters reflect the diversity of circumstances and conditions that can trigger the need for care, and illustrates the wide penetration of such conditions into family / adult life. Stretched public resources, changing family patterns, and increasing awareness of the right to support by carers are challenges to service providers in many countries, including ones considered affluent. There is a universal need to better understand the challenges faced by both carers and vulnerable people in the provision of care which is sustainable, dignified and person-centred. This book will be a valuable step towards opening up knowledge and discussion of this important issue at an international level.

--Penelope Welbourne, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Plymouth, UK.

This book on Family Caregiving edited by Selwyn Stanley represents a collective body of expertise on the important issue of care for vulnerable populations. Caregiving is one of the most important human factors in enabling people facing various challenges to grow and thrive. The book focuses on all aspects of caregiving, from the experience of satisfaction, sense of purpose and value, to stress and strain. In doing so, it offers a courageous perspective on the inner experiences of caregivers and offers them the opportunity to be heard and understood.

--Delphine Collin-Vézina, PhD, Professor, School of Social Work, McGill University, Canada.

About the Author

Selwyn Stanley is a Social Work Educator & Researcher and was Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Edge Hill University, UK. His research interests include mental health, substance misuse, informal caregiving, family life dynamics, and quality of life research.