Valuing Older People applies Social Role Valorization (SRV) and positive psychology principles to our thinking about how we can contribute to better humanitarian care for people in later life. SRV theory is based on the idea that society devalues particular groups of people identified as fundamentally ‘different’, in this case older people and especially those with dementia, ongoing physical disabilities and illnesses, and end–of–life issues. In this book, Elspeth Stirling applies SRV not only in counteracting this view of older people being valueless, but also in demonstrating that they have a beneficial effect on society as a whole. Similarly, positive psychology theory is used to outline the strengths and virtues which enable both older individuals and the wider community to thrive. Stirling argues that the presence of older people coping with disabilities helps all age groups to develop the personal attributes necessary to cope in a demanding world where ecological...
