Book Review: Practitioner research for social work, nursing and the health professions by Payam Sheikhattari, Michael T Wright, Gillian B Silver, Cyrilla van der Donk and Bas van Lanen

much more than maybe 12 hours without them” (p. 214). The author begins Part I with a historical overview of the role played by disability rights activists in the post-World War II era, culminating in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other legislative efforts that presaged the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. After detailing the many twists and turns that led to the emergence of PAS, she concludes that policymakers have coalesced around the “supports that enable individuals with disabilities and older adults who would otherwise require institutional care to live independently in the community” (p. 43). In Parts II through V, the author brings the complex world of PAS to life by describing the words and experiences of 21 disabled consumers and the 20 PAs who “make their days happen.” We learn about the many ways in which the lives and needs of these two groups align or diverge. One of the strengths of this book is the level of personal detail included in each chapter. Many of the individuals discussed in the book consented to be photographed and were often very frank in the opinions they shared with the author. Another strength is that the PAS movement is presented as a dynamic, evolving process. The author makes it clear this topic will come to preoccupy more and more Americans as the years progress. “Finding sustainable solutions to the looming paid PAS crisis requires understanding the intertwined and complex policy, personal, and interpersonal factors affecting in-home ADL supports” (p. 7). An interesting device in each chapter is to present the topics from both points of view. Thus, we see “Perspectives of Consumers” and “Perspectives of PAs” repeated throughout the book. Chapter topics cover nearly every aspect of a disabled person’s life. These include whether aids are hired by an agency or hired directly by the consumer, issues of trust and intimacy, issues regarding safety and abuse, and issues concerning hiring, firing, and paying additional funds privately. The author leaves a few stones unturned. In summary, this book is ideal for any person contemplating the need to engage the services of a personal care assistant. As both a social worker and someone who utilizes PAS, I enjoyed the comprehensive treatment of this topic. In addition, policymakers in all fields will benefit from the balanced approach to this complex societal need.