The book is an updated version of an earlier book exploring person-centred thinking with older people (Bowers et al. Reference Bowers, Bailey, Sanderson, Easterbrook and Macadam2007) and acknowledges recent financial, political and social changes that have impacted on current support and service delivery, in particular to older people in the United Kingdom (UK). From the beginning it clearly delivers exactly what the title states: it provides six practical person-centred thinking approaches which, when put into practice, can assist in ensuring older people have greater control in how they live their lives.

The introduction identifies four issues which could benefit from person-centred thinking and approaches: (a) the effect when services became the dominant part of an older person's life; (b) loneliness and the transactional nature of service provision that does not account for the individuality of the older person; (c) what a good later life looks like with an emphasis on having relationships and networks; and (d) and the lack of equal and valid involvement with the older person by professionals who perceive they are already working in a person-centred way. This introductory chapter goes on to summarise the main developments in policy and practice over the last seven years, highlighting how person-centred approaches have been enshrined in UK government policy and best practice for over a decade, but the challenge remains of how to implement these policies.

The main focus of this book is on six approaches:

1. 1. One-page profiles: listing what others appreciate about the person and then listing what is important to and for that person.

2. 2. Relationship circles: using a circle or map to identify at least one person involved in the older person's life and encouraging them to consider the depth or creation of other relationships.

3. 3. Communication charts: these record the meaning of a person's communication, e.g. a glance at the clock may mean they want to go to bed.

4. 4. Histories: capturing a person's life story in a creative and visual manner.

5. 5. Wishing: older people being able to express their wishes and dreams and advice to those who listen to those dreams.

6. 6. Working and not working: recording what is working for the person and those who provide their care so that changes can be made.

These are person-centred tools, each explained and detailed in a dedicated chapter introducing the reader to a real person complete with a photograph, their stories and the outcomes they experienced when those who provide their care and support applied person-centred approaches. The tools can be used in isolation or together, e.g. p. 45 gives a diagram of a one-page profile meeting that incorporates the majority of the approaches. The final two chapters of the book explain how these person-centred tools can be used in care and support planning, and discusses the creation of circles of support where a facilitator brings together the older person with their family and friends with the purpose of exploring how the older person can be supported more effectively.

This book accomplishes its aim of providing thought-provoking person-centred practices that can help improve the lives for older people as well as providing practical and accessible tools for people involved in providing services. The book is simple without being simplistic; its key strength being that it is written with clear and easy-to-understand language, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. It is also relatively short and can be read quickly.

The essential practices discussed require minimal preparation and the authors generously provide internet links with further information and resources. The value of these approaches is that they are tried and tested; the authors include real older people and the comments of their families, friends and carers. The photographs of the people add a personal quality but with the exception of the front cover, are all white females. However, this is a minor limitation. The chapter on communication charts is effective in providing ways to capture the wishes of someone with limited or no verbal communication that can be used by each member of staff caring for the person.

In my opinion, this book would be of great benefit to practitioners in health and social care, in particular those who own, manage or are employed in care homes. It could be used as a training or supervision tool, both for its practical application of specific approaches and for creating self-awareness amongst those who work with older people. Social workers, care managers and care co-ordinators would particularly benefit from the approaches and how they can be used in assessment, care planning and reviews.