We live in an ageing society, and for most of us our final years of life will be spent with a degree of frailty. This book provides a practical guide and a Christian perspective on wise use of healthcare for those living with frailty. It is helpful both to those who are already experiencing how age limits their abilities, and also to those who are becoming involved in healthcare decisions for parents or older relatives.

Dr Ian Donald has been a specialist in the care of older people for over 30 years, and a pioneer for care in the community. He discusses openly the limitations of healthcare, the risks of too many pills and the dangers of a long spell in hospital. He argues that a unique style of healthcare is now emerging, preferable to many, which lies somewhere between hi-tech and comfort-only care.

We would love to put our trust in modern medicine to cure all our ills but know in our hearts this is unrealistic. What we desire above all is to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. This book will help you think ahead with courage and make the best use of healthcare during this stage of life.

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"With a Light Touch is full of gracious wisdom from a consultant in geriatric medicine who has fully integrated his professional knowledge and skill with the faith that energises him. Ian Donald writes with clarity and compassion and has given us a deeply encouraging book full of practical help, backed by fascinating research and years of experience. I came away informed, cheered and renewed in hope." - Bishop John Pritchard

"The title of Ian's book perfectly expresses the way in which he has given us a most thoughtful and perceptive introduction to a subject which must concern us all. He does this from his long experience as a physician specialising in 'frailty'. This term in itself reminds us that vulnerability and dependence are not the preserve of the elderly. Individual independence is an illusion. Ian's deep Christian faith undergirds this book, but it is never partisan or hectoring. He has a large view of healing, reminding us that it is not all about 'curing'. Bringing wholeness can mean 'making sense and coming to terms with our condition, improving the symptoms so that we can live with it; and even using it for a new purpose'. His approach to dying and death is similarly creative. This is indeed a book for our time and I am sure it will both encourage and challenge all who read it." - Canon Neil Heavisides

"This book wonderfully fills a gap on many bookshelves. It is born from years of experience and a deep Christian faith. The pages of this book dare to name things that are often not spoken, and Ian Donald weaves together the practical and the reflective. Whether you are someone in the later years of life, a family member or carer, or someone who is having the courage to think about what it means to grow old, this book is a treasure trove of wisdom, pertinent questions and pragmatic comment, all rooted in the bigger picture of what it means to be mortal." - The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons

"Dr Ian Donald is a geriatrician who brings many years of experience in working with frailty to this book. It's a superb book. I only wish we'd had something like it when my dad lived with us. I think it will benefit both carers and those of us who are 'getting on a bit'! It needs to be read by anyone who looks after elderly relatives, or as a preparation for our own aging and dying. The blend of Christian teaching and thinking and the medical perspective is so helpful – and...