This textbook aims to set a new agenda for the care of older people and promote new frameworks reflecting the changing role of nurses in this often undervalued area of care. Organised into four discrete but linked sections, it looks in depth at the context and experience of ageing in society today and examines the delivery of care. Section 1 introduces the main themes of positive ageing and the social world of older people. Section 2 identifies an individualized approach to the experience of ageing and looks at the impact of gender and race. Section 3 concentrates on developments in nursing, including rehabilitation and the potential for advanced practice. Section 4 concludes with an evaluation of the political context which affects older people and the care they receive. Written to promote reflection and development in practice, this text is aimed at all students and practising nurses in this field.