Piercy, K. W. (2010). Working with aging families: Therapeutic solutions for caregivers,spouses, and adult children. New York: W. W. Norton, 276 pp., $27.95.

As by 2030, the number of adults aged 65 years old and over is estimated to reach 71.5million, the United States represents an aging society. This demographic change is alreadyinfluencing family dynamics, and it brings an additional challenge to mental health profession-als interested in working with seniors. Thus, Piercy’s book, encompassing the perspectives of afield social worker, a researcher on aging, and a university professor, represents a timely addi-tion to the gerontological library.

Piercy effectively combines the perspectives of a clinician and a researcher throughthoughtful vignettes representing diverse therapeutic encounters. She offers extensive clinicalsuggestions, addressing a variety of situations pertaining to older adults and their families. Cul-tural diversity is comprehensively addressed in the presented case analyses, along with a carefulexamination of the aging process and relational changes associated with this developmentalstage. Moreover, the book serves as a reference guide, providing the reader with an excellentselection of books and online resources.

In addition, Dr. Piercy effectively illustrates how the combination of varied therapeuticinterventions and assistance with resource identification (e.g., finding an appropriate long-termcare facility for an aging parent) can be helpful to older adults and their families. Thus, theauthor engages the reader in reflection about what constitutes the optimal provision of qualitycare to aging adults. In doing so, she promotes flexibility in therapeutic approaches and guidingconcepts while working with this population.

Within this flexible clinical framework, various therapeutic modalities are presented. Dr.Piercy demonstrates the effectiveness of individual (e.g., cognitive-behavioral) as well as rela-tional (e.g., Solution-Focused, Bowen Family Systems Theory) approaches. Family therapy ispresented as one of the assessment and treatment tools particularly helpful while examiningfamily dynamics and family history. Only the presence of a family issue seems to invite a rela-tional approach; issues perceived as individual struggles (e.g., bereavement) are approachedfrom an individual perspective.

Moreover, without mentioning the existence of diverse models of family therapy, theauthor chooses to particularly emphasize Bowen Family Systems Theory. Selected ideas ofBowen’s approach are introduced along with general ‘‘key concepts’’ (p. 54) and ‘‘assumptionsin systems thinking’’ (p. 52). Such selective representation of diverse ideas of family therapycan be helpful for a brief introduction to systems thinking. However, educators and novicefamily therapists should bear in mind that these notions need to be positioned within thebroader context of relational thinking.

Overall, this book offers a general resource guide addressing therapeutic work with olderadults rather than a particular illustration of a relational perspective. As such, it can be helpfulto a student unfamiliar with an aging population or to a clinician looking for additional ideasand resources in the field of aging. Dr. Piercy beautifully illustrates how an integration of dif-ferent therapeutic approaches, including an intersection of multiple knowledge domains, alongwith collaboration among various health care professionals, are necessary in providing optimalcare to aging families.

Yulia Watters, MS, LMFTHelp through Loss, Aventura, FL

April 2011 JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 271