'Students of social policy will welcome the fourth edition of Anthea Tinker's classic text...;It is a mine of useful detail and source material and covers housing, the financial and employment position of older people and the role of the family and community as well as the health and personal social services in supporting older people. New sections consider some of the main effects of the last government's health and social services reforms...;Importantly it places emphasis on the social contribution of older people...;It provides a balanced overview written in the finest traditions of academic social administration, of one of the most important contemporary policy areas and is an essential text for students from a wide range of disciplines.'  Community Care

• Editor's prefaceAuthor's preface to the fourth editionAcknowledgementsList of abbreviationsPart One. The background 1. Introduction2. A profile of older people3. General review of the literaturePart Two. Needs and how they are met 4. A critical narrative of the main developments in services for older people5. The financial and employment position 6. Health7. Housing8. Personal and other social services9. Some groups with special needs10. Community care - the family11. Community care - support from the wider communityPart Three. Assessment 12. The contribution of older people13. Some general problems14. The topic in perspectivePart Four. Documents BibliographyIndex

'Students of social policy will welcome the fourth edition of Anthea Tinker's classic text...;It is a mine of useful detail and source material and covers housing, the financial and employment position of older people and the role of the family and community as well as the health and personal social services in supporting older people. New sections consider some of the main effects of the last government's health and social services reforms...;Importantly it places emphasis on the social contribution of older people...;It provides a balanced overview written in the finest traditions of academic social administration, of one of the most important contemporary policy areas and is an essential text for students from a wide range of disciplines.'  Community Care

• Editor's prefaceAuthor's preface to the fourth editionAcknowledgementsList of abbreviationsPart One. The background 1. Introduction2. A profile of older people3. General review of the literaturePart Two. Needs and how they are met 4. A critical narrative of the main developments in services for older people5. The financial and employment position 6. Health7. Housing8. Personal and other social services9. Some groups with special needs10. Community care - the family11. Community care - support from the wider communityPart Three. Assessment 12. The contribution of older people13. Some general problems14. The topic in perspectivePart Four. Documents BibliographyIndex