Some time ago I found myself sitting in an Accident and Emergency Department with my 85 year old mother.  After he had dealt with my mother the young doctor turned to me and started asking how I was coping with caring for her. I remember being impressed that this doctor was carrying out a carer’s assessment.  Then I realised that the object of that assessment was me; whereas I had always been a daughter I now also had the label ‘carer’ and it seemed as though that label had superseded my relationship with my mother.  I belonged to a new group; one that I wasn’t sure I wanted to be part of!  Thus, it was with great interest I read a number of the articles in this issue.  Dr. Lucy Vento presents a very comprehensive review of the literature relating to the positive experiences of spouse and partner carers. I was particularly interested by the sense of fulfilling wedding vows which some carers expressed and the need for further research into how couples who have not married make sense of the caring relationship.  I next turned to the article by Tony Braker, Rachel Thompson, Cheryl Hudson and Helen Springthorpe about the Admiral Nursing Service which gives a very clear explanation of how this important service can benefit carers. Finally, I read the article by Jim Ellis about establishing a dementia drop-in centre in Lichfield and was inspired by the fact that the service developed and evolved in response to the needs of carers.

This issue also has two articles which really set me thinking about different perspectives on dementia.  I was intrigued by Kim Cowley’s enquiry about children’s perception of dementia and the influence of soap operas and Harry Potter.  Katie Peters’ article entitled ‘The Need to Connect’ describes her work introducing a reading group to people with early stage dementia in a care home and how different poems and even single words and phrases can arouse interests and connections for individuals in the group.

Our regular contributor, Bob Woods, discusses the relevance of the term ‘recovery’ to older people and considers the potentially close relationship between the terms ‘recovery’ and ‘person-centred’ care.  With this framework I then turned to the article by Emma Ackerman and Amritha Nambiar describing the exciting partnership between services which has led to the rehabilitation and enablement happening at the Havenhurst project in Pembrokeshire.

For those eager to enhance their knowledge about mood disorders and their treatment we have a very comprehensive article from John Tredget and Arwel Thomas which considers the implementation of the NICE guidelines both for depression and bipolar disorder.  Finally, Lorraine Morgan describes the development of a Practitioner Network on Ageing in Wales which means there are now groups in each nation of the UK and a developing one in Ireland.  The network aims to bring together practitioners interested in and/or working with older people.

I wish you happy and inspiring reading.