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Focuses on the relevance of practice development programs for medical personnel in providing health care for older people. Means to help practitioners find creative ways in the medical practice; Way to provide support and medical care for older patients; Assurance on giving efficient services for older people.

Focuses on the significance and demand of practice development in the field of healthcare and nursing of older people. Explanation of the term practice development; Activities involved in practice development; Details of a practice development partnership project.

The RCN Gerontological Nursing Programme (GNP) is involved in a wide range of practice development projects within the independent sector and the NHS. These focus on developing person-centred care through the transformation of cultures and attitudes to older people. Practice development involves focusing on practitioners' learning within the workplace and utilises a range of activities.

The Royal College of Nursing Gerontological Nursing Programme is compiling a database of nurses in the United Kingdom and Eire who are using the RCN Assessment Tool for older people. This database could be used for nurses using the tool to network with each other, share issues and keep nurses in touch with any developments regarding the tool.

The NHS Plan ( DoH 2000 ), published last year, emphasises improved care for older people. Key within it is the proposal that older people in all settings will receive free NHS nursing care by October this year. This is good news for older people living in nursing homes and who are at present paying for their nursing care. The Royal Commission on long term care ( 1999 ) recommended that all personal and nursing care should be funded, but this has been rejected by the government, which has said nursing care, but not personal care, will be free, thus creating an artificial divide between the two. As nurses who work with older people will know, integration of services and care approaches are necessary to maximise the older person's potential, and respond to their expressed needs and wishes.