Introduction

The book has provided an interdisciplinary, comparative, as well as a critical investigation of reablement practice, investigating reablement from the perspectives of research, theory, and practice. In this concluding chapter, we want to take the opportunity to reflect on the content of the book chapters, and with a focus on the convergence/divergence of reablement tracks, the challenges and learnings, as well as the implications for theory, practice and policy-making.

The chapter has been developed following a facilitated online discussion between five members of the ReAble Network and based on a reading of all chapters. The participants in the discussion were: Tine Rostgaard (Professor, Stockholm University, Sweden, and Roskilde University, Denmark); Hanne Tuntland (Professor, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and Associate Professor, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway); Rudi Westendorp (Professor, University of Copenhagen, Denmark); Michelle Nelson (Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Canada); and John Parsons (Associate Professor, The University of Auckland, New Zealand). The discussion was structured around a number of key questions and was recorded and transcribed.

The chapter summarises the key learnings and messages from the book and, using quotes from the discussion, illustrates the potential implications for reablement practice and research. Moreover, the editors reflect in the conclusion over the key issues discussed in the book, learning points and the way forward.

What is the main message of the book?

The first question posed to the five participants in the facilitated discussion related to what they believed was the main message of the book. It was here acknowledged that the contributors to the book are from nine countries across three continents and represent various disciplinary backgrounds. Most of the chapters have a cross-country and cross-disciplinary comparative perspective. In addition, the combination of both a researcher's and a clinician's perspective are of particular note:

‘The book brings together two different perspectives. It's one of the health professionals who analyses the implications for clinical practice and client-level outcomes. The other perspective is from social scientists who analyse the political possibilities and constraints within the service delivery situation.’

Furthermore, basing the book on the ReAble Network of international collaborators was seen as a strength of the book, which allowed the identification of key messages relating to the development and implementation of reablement across the participating countries.