This authoritative book serves as an invaluable resource for policy advocates, program planners, and service delivery agents. It provides an overview of the major pieces of legislation that currently impact the field of aging, and the lives of older adults; addresses the philosophical, historical, and demographic challenges that they face; and lays out tools that facilitate policy and program development to include the media, coalition building, the use of an evidence base, and health promotion strategies. Jurkowski also examines major service areas for older adults, and how each major mandated program addresses these programs and services--a must for the program planner or a service delivery setting.

The book is also extremely helpful to graduate students in social work, public health, and gerontology, building their understanding of policy development through a critical analysis and review of policy frameworks, and promotes development of skills in shaping programs and implementing policy. Unlike other books in this field, Policy and Program Planning for Older Adults focuses on triangulating skills, policies, and programs for the reader, and blends a social welfare and public health approach to the text's conceptual design.