We Need to Talk About Ageing

Do you get the sense that something's just not quite right with Mum, Grandpa, or yourself? Does your family avoid having the big conversations about ageing? Are you confused and overwhelmed? You are not alone. With over a decade of experience specialising in older people's mental health and dementia in Australia, clinical psychologist Melissa Levi has helped more than a thousand older people and their families navigate the ageing journey. While every family's story is unique, Melissa has come to know that we all share common fears and questions about ageing—the same questions that her own family had when her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia. In We Need to Talk About Ageing, Melissa encourages us to understand that while getting older is inevitable, the experience doesn't need to be overwhelming, or clouded with uncertainty or confusion. Melissa provides expert information on what to expect as you get older, how to identify symptoms of common medical and psychiatric conditions in later life, and, most importantly, what you can do and where to go for help. Melissa also shares practical strategies, tips, and discussion prompts, so you and your family are equipped to have the big conversations about ageing and are empowered to plan for the future. This book will help you to clarify your options, find your way through the aged-care maze, make informed, values-aligned decisions, and ultimately experience greater meaning, joy, and connection. We Need to Talk About Ageing is a comprehensive guide that will empower your family to navigate the ageing journey with confidence and hope. "We all MUST talk about old age and cognitive impairment, and this stellar book shows the way! An absolute must read!" Associate Professor David Burke, Discipline of Psychiatry, UNDA Sydney "Warm and compassionate, Melissa offers sound clinical information and practical advice . . . Sure to be helpful for all families." Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW Sydney "This is a book as full of heart as it is help ... There are many practical insights in this book, all of them delivered in a relatable way, from the sort of psychologist you'd love your ageing parents to meet." BOOKS+PUBLISHING