Book excerpt: Helping older people and their families cope successfully with mental health problems is the responsibility of a multi-disciplinary team of health and social care professionals. This textbook reflects this approach and applies theory and research to the practical care of elderly people with mental health problems from a multi-disciplinary perspective. The book is divided into four sections: Mental Health, Old Age, and Society; Understanding Mental Health Problems in Later Life; Therapeutic Interventions; and The Organization of Care for Elderly People with Mental Health Problems. Case material is interspersed throughout to illustrate the application of theory and research in practice and all chapters include annotated bibliographies of recommended reading as well as reference lists.