Lyceum Books

Citizenship social work with older people.

Payne (St. Christopher's Hospice, London; Opole University, Poland) puts forth an original framework of citizenship social work with older people, starting from the idea that citizenship confers rights and responsibilities for older people as well as for everyone else. Reflection questions encourage readers to think about their own beliefs and values surrounding citizenship and older people. Other learning features include chapter objectives, exercises, and a wealth of links to free Internet resources. The first three chapters of the book provide context for practice with older people, covering the aging experience, integration of services, and social provisions for older people in the areas of health, housing, and financial security. The next four chapters focus on critical social work practice, group and macro practice, creative practice, and skills such as assessment, care planning, and case management. A final chapter looks at reasons why older people are excluded from society and how social workers can respond. Ideas are demonstrated through numerous case vignettes. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The costs of courage; combat stress, warriors, and family survival.

Offering background on military culture in America and different types of combat stress injuries, Pryce (social work, U. of Alabama) prepares social work students and professionals for practice with American soldiers and their families. A special feature of the book is a chapter on the experiences of family members, based on personal interviews. The author describes the soul wounds created by unique aspects of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and does not shy away from addressing the epidemic of sexual assault on women and men in combat. She reveals important aspects of military subculture in each branch of military service, and describes the dynamics of the military family. The symptoms and impact of four different types of combat stress injuries are outlined: PTSD, major depressive episode, major depressive disorder, and traumatic brain injury. There is also information on suicide, homelessness, and incarceration. Chapters on social work solutions look at the effects of multiple deployments, countering the stigma of seeking help, issues affecting children and adolescents, and veterans' higher education. The book includes a glossary of military-speak and slang. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)