Karen A. Roberto – författare

Pathways of Human Development uses theoretical perspectives from developmental, social, and behavioral sciences to examine the many ways that individuals, families, and communities intersect and interface. Focusing on the impact of change on human development, including its antecedents, processes, and consequences, the chapters examine a range of topics such as health and adaptation; social anxiety disorder; protective factors and risk behaviors; parent-child relationships; adolescent sexuality; intergenerational relationships; family stress and adaptation; and community resilience. By extending human development theorizing across these pivotal life-changing issues, this volume offers a comprehensive map of the trajectories of development among individuals, families, and communities.

By bringing together contributions from the fields of gerontology and developmental disabilities, the editor of this volume makes an important statement about the need for collaborative and multidisciplinary research to be conducted in this area, and for the developmental disabilities service system and the aging network to work together to support these caregivers and their family members with developmental disabilities. --American Journal on Mental Retardation The shift from institutional to community-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities and their increase in longevity has resulted in more and more elderly serving as primary caregivers for adults with developmental disabilities. The Elderly Caregiver addresses the predominate issues and concerns confronting these older caregivers. By bringing together the empirical work of researchers from a variety of disciplines, this volume provides insight into the physical, psychological, and social needs of this growing segment of the population. Contributors explore the needs of elderly parents caring for adult children with mental retardation, changes in their caregiving activities, the increasing burden of caregiving, and the ordeal of facing their own frailties while planning future out-of-home placement for their children. Additional chapters focus on the needs of caregivers of aging adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, case management is examined from the perceptions of family members as well as case managers themselves. A concluding chapter draws together the implications for the future directions for practice, policy, and research. Unique in its presentation, The Elderly Caregiver is invaluable to researchers, practitioners and advanced students in aging, health/rehabilitation, social work, and family studies. "Not only does the author provide insight into some of the physical, social, and psychological needs of these [developmentally disabled] adults, she explores certain needs of the elderly parents who are facing their own aging problems. This accessible book is geared for caregivers, providers, family members, and professionals involved with older adults who have developmental disabilities. . . . This book offers highly practical advice of use to a wide variety of readers, including the caregivers, professionals, and health care providers concerned with adults having these disabilities." --Academic Library Book Review "In addition to enlightening the reader with its contemporary knowledge of the field, the text is well organized and includes some of the most impressive empirical work conducted in this area. As well, it provides some good suggestions for future research. . . . The work provides a comprehensive perspective on family caregivers, aging caregivers, and the aging of people with developmental disabilities who are recipients of care. . . . At a time when numerous books on deinstitutionalization, community care of the mentally ill, and the intellectually impaired are appearing on the market, it is a great pleasure to see a book that is well-rounded. . . . I recommend this book as a valuable text for researchers, practitioners, and students of gerontology. Further, it will serve as an invaluable book for caregivers themselves. It has undoubtedly made a significant contribution in the field." --The Canadian Health Psychologist "...This collection fills a significant unmet need, and can be related to other caregiving situations. It is an up-to-date and very readable book, for practitioners and policy makers as well as researchers and educators. Families should also find it useful. ...The topic is a timely example of the need for service integration in our aging society. This collection helps to address their needs and those of their children by applying theory, suggesting additional research, and making specific practice and policy recommendations." --Contemporary Gerontology

By bringing together contributions from the fields of gerontology and developmental disabilities, the editor of this volume makes an important statement about the need for collaborative and multidisciplinary research to be conducted in this area, and for the developmental disabilities service system and the aging network to work together to support these caregivers and their family members with developmental disabilities. --American Journal on Mental Retardation The shift from institutional to community-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities and their increase in longevity has resulted in more and more elderly serving as primary caregivers for adults with developmental disabilities. The Elderly Caregiver addresses the predominate issues and concerns confronting these older caregivers. By bringing together the empirical work of researchers from a variety of disciplines, this volume provides insight into the physical, psychological, and social needs of this growing segment of the population. Contributors explore the needs of elderly parents caring for adult children with mental retardation, changes in their caregiving activities, the increasing burden of caregiving, and the ordeal of facing their own frailties while planning future out-of-home placement for their children. Additional chapters focus on the needs of caregivers of aging adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, case management is examined from the perceptions of family members as well as case managers themselves. A concluding chapter draws together the implications for the future directions for practice, policy, and research. Unique in its presentation, The Elderly Caregiver is invaluable to researchers, practitioners and advanced students in aging, health/rehabilitation, social work, and family studies. "Not only does the author provide insight into some of the physical, social, and psychological needs of these [developmentally disabled] adults, she explores certain needs of the elderly parents who are facing their own aging problems. This accessible book is geared for caregivers, providers, family members, and professionals involved with older adults who have developmental disabilities. . . . This book offers highly practical advice of use to a wide variety of readers, including the caregivers, professionals, and health care providers concerned with adults having these disabilities." --Academic Library Book Review "In addition to enlightening the reader with its contemporary knowledge of the field, the text is well organized and includes some of the most impressive empirical work conducted in this area. As well, it provides some good suggestions for future research. . . . The work provides a comprehensive perspective on family caregivers, aging caregivers, and the aging of people with developmental disabilities who are recipients of care. . . . At a time when numerous books on deinstitutionalization, community care of the mentally ill, and the intellectually impaired are appearing on the market, it is a great pleasure to see a book that is well-rounded. . . . I recommend this book as a valuable text for researchers, practitioners, and students of gerontology. Further, it will serve as an invaluable book for caregivers themselves. It has undoubtedly made a significant contribution in the field." --The Canadian Health Psychologist "...This collection fills a significant unmet need, and can be related to other caregiving situations. It is an up-to-date and very readable book, for practitioners and policy makers as well as researchers and educators. Families should also find it useful. ...The topic is a timely example of the need for service integration in our aging society. This collection helps to address their needs and those of their children by applying theory, suggesting additional research, and making specific practice and policy recommendations." --Contemporary Gerontology

This is the first book to focus exclusively on resilience and the aging process. Its purpose is to provide the current scientific theory, clinical guidelines, and real-world interventions with regard to resilience as a clinical tool.

This is the first book to focus exclusively on resilience and the aging process. Its purpose is to provide the current scientific theory, clinical guidelines, and real-world interventions with regard to resilience as a clinical tool.

Community Resources for Older Adults provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on programs, services, and policies pertaining to older adults. Authors Robbyn R. Wacker and Karen A. Roberto build reader awareness of programs and discuss how to better understand help-seeking behavior, as well as explain ways to take advantage of the resources available to older adults. The substantially revised Fifth Edition includes new topics and updated research, tables, and figures to help answer key questions about the evolution and utilization of programs for older adults and the challenges that service providers face.

This much-needed book explores the issues and consequences of chronic pain in later life. Chronic pain often accompanies the non-fatal health conditions experienced by older women, but much of the professional literature virtually ignores older chronic pain sufferers. Older Women With Chronic Pain begins to fill this void by exploring chronic pain and its effects on older individuals. Authors draw upon existing pain literature, their knowledge of aging, and recognition of the health issues facing older women to illuminate the particulars of chronic pain in later life in relation to its etiology, assessment, consequences, and management.Chronic pain is not and should not be treated as part of the natural aging process. This book stresses the importance of understanding the causes and consequences of living with chronic pain in later life. Among the specific areas that chapters explore are:physical and biomedical aspects of chronic pain in later life the importance of using a comprehensive strategy for assessing chronic pain in older women coping strategies used by older women with chronic musculoskeletal pain issues associated with cancer pain and pain management in later life the influence of chronic pain on the family relationships of older women nonpharmacologic interventions for the management of chronic pain in older womenThe book includes a thorough review of the geriatric literature as well as suggestions for future research in the area of women with chronic pain. Researchers and academicians interested in the health concerns of older women, and clinicians and practitioners working with older women (and men) with chronic pain will find this book full of insightful information to help them in their work.

This much-needed book explores the issues and consequences of chronic pain in later life. Chronic pain often accompanies the non-fatal health conditions experienced by older women, but much of the professional literature virtually ignores older chronic pain sufferers. Older Women With Chronic Pain begins to fill this void by exploring chronic pain and its effects on older individuals. Authors draw upon existing pain literature, their knowledge of aging, and recognition of the health issues facing older women to illuminate the particulars of chronic pain in later life in relation to its etiology, assessment, consequences, and management.Chronic pain is not and should not be treated as part of the natural aging process. This book stresses the importance of understanding the causes and consequences of living with chronic pain in later life. Among the specific areas that chapters explore are:physical and biomedical aspects of chronic pain in later life the importance of using a comprehensive strategy for assessing chronic pain in older women coping strategies used by older women with chronic musculoskeletal pain issues associated with cancer pain and pain management in later life the influence of chronic pain on the family relationships of older women nonpharmacologic interventions for the management of chronic pain in older womenThe book includes a thorough review of the geriatric literature as well as suggestions for future research in the area of women with chronic pain. Researchers and academicians interested in the health concerns of older women, and clinicians and practitioners working with older women (and men) with chronic pain will find this book full of insightful information to help them in their work.