499

Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Leisure Issues, Policy and Practice edited by Ted Tedrick. Ha worth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamfon, NY 13904- 1580, USA, 1997 (ISBN 0 7890 0023 7). 103 pages. $29.95.

This book, although for persons working with mental retardation and older people, will be of interest to any physiotherapist working with elderly clients.

The book is divided into eight logical chapters which follow each other in an interesting sequence. Each chapter has a full up-to-date reference list.

As a physiotherapist, I was inter- ested in chapter 3 ‘Fitness and Exercise for Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities’ by Linda Frizzell.

She suggests (backed by evidence) that ‘individuals can realise benefits of exercise participation and signifi- cantly reverse certain motor [muscle] and cognitive decline in performance at almost any age’.

This was an issue I had always believed, i t was good to read that another professional felt the same.

She gives basic guidelines for the development of exercise prog- rammes in older persons which will

be of interest to junior physiothera- this population and suggested pists starting to work with elderly requirements for the future (more people or more experienced senior research). physiotherapists who want con- In conclusion, this is a small hard- firmation that what they are back book which lies flat on the doing is also carried out in other table when open, the pages do not areas. fall out, and the print is a decent

I also enjoyed chapter 7 by Gail size. Hoge and Barbara Wilhite. They I would recommend this book to write about maintaining a high any department which deals with quality of life in the older population older clients or patients with devel- and include a very good model of opmental disabilities. care which could be applied to any If you cannot find time to look service (see diagram below). a t the whole book, a t least read

In the final chapter the editor chapter3. outlined the needs and issues of Christine Marsh MCSP

1 Defining the target population (consumers and staff)

Discovering recreation integration needs and interests

r Evaluating consumers’

experience and outcomes

t Providing a continuum of recreation services

t I

Empowering consumers

1 Creating staff awareness

and understanding

Preparing consumers

Designing and adapting recreation experiences

for successful integration t

Model of care for older adults - or any other service

Public Policy and the Old Age Revolution in Japan edited by Scoff A Bass, Robert Morris and Masato Oka. Haworth Press, 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA, 1996 (ISBN 0 7890 00121 1). 203 pages. $34.95.

Japan has the most rapidly ageing and long-lived society in the world with challenging social and economic consequences. The tran- sition from a young to an old society has been fast and has focused the attention of public and politicians alike. The much slower transition in the West has not had such impact.

The Japanese government has produced a ‘Gold Plan’ comprehen- sive approach to developing services and programmes, facilitating secu- rity and dignity in old age, These include:

Health promotion and the prevention of immobility.

Funding for support at home and in nursing homes and intermediate care.

Research and development in services for old age. 0 Part-time paid and voluntary work with flexible pension arrange- ments.

Despite this, critics have condemned the plan for following the Western medical model, excluding leisure, education and housing; some are concerned with economic sustainability; and others with the lack of pace and ambition.

The West can learn much from the pro-active stance of the Jap- anese government so long as it is in context with the culture, norms and lifestyle of a highly complex society. A particular cultural feature is spiritual enrichment throughout life, as opposed to the western focus on independence, although the ‘third age’ movement does go some way to addressing this in the West.

The book is unique in its concise and straightforward approach to explaining many of the concepts

which relate to Japanese health and social policies. I t would provide an invaluable primer for those partici- pating in the WCPT Congress in Yokohama in 1999 as well as a useful addition to a gerontology library where such works will enable policy makers to shape our destiny.

Amanda Squires MSc FCSP

Reprints from Physiotherapy

Oncology and Palliative Care 28pages-f8 Neurology

56 pages - f 15

Electrotherapy 76pages-flO

(second edition)

These reprints are obtainable post free from Department LP, CSP, 14 Bedford Row, London WC1 R 4ED. Please send payment with orders.

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Physiotherapy, September 1997, vol83, no 9