This text is intended for courses on community services and programmes for the elderly, typically found in gerontology departments and departments of social work. Rather than simply focusing on building awareness of the various programmes and services available, the authors stress the importance of the theoretical knowledge that will assist in understanding the social and psychological dynamics of help-seeking behaviour. By understanding the social and psychological needs of the elderly and their families, as well as the services available to them, students will be better able to take advantage of resources available to help their clients. This new edition will update the key policy updates affecting older adults as well as the census data offered throughout the text. It will also update the many unique pedagogical features such as the sections titled FYI, best practices, case studies and the web and national resources. Increased attention will be focused on aging and diverse populations and the idea of cultural competency than previous editions, as this area has continued to become a critical part of delivering effective care. Also, international issues, faith-based services, services for LGBT elders, rural elders, immigrants, and other special populations will also be covered or expanded in the new edition.