The term swansong refers to an ancient belief that having been silent or alternatively not so musical during most of their lifetime, swans sing a beautiful song in the moment just before their death. According to Wikipedia this belief which has been much debated became proverbial in ancient Greece by the third century BC and was reiterated many times in later western poetry and art. Hence, swansong has come to mean the final performance or activity of a person's career. We have been lucky that Steve has been neither mute nor a swan during his lifetime but has instead contributed magnificently producing a vast, seminal and diverse array of contribution to research around caregivers. I am therefore very grateful and honoured that Steve has produced this fine and thoughtful review article on future research for caregiving interventions for people with dementia. I think it is fitting to introduce the paper with a comment from one of the reviewers that it ‘sets a benchmark for future research with family carers’. On another note I would like to say what a privilege it has been to work with Steve Zarit as an Editor on Ageing and Mental Health for in fact the last 20 years. The journal had its genesis in 1995 with myself, Steve, Bob Woods and Dan Blazer who was the original lead editor for The Americas. Apart from making a huge contribution to the success of the journal Steve has also been a consistently kind and wonderful person to work with. (Martin Orrell)
When Steve responded positively to our invitation to join the founding editorial team for the journal, Martin and I couldn't believe our luck in having on board a psychologist with such an outstanding and inspiring track record in the clinical psychology of ageing and caregiving. Fortunately for us, from across the Atlantic, he had also seen the need for a journal dedicated to mental health and ageing that was interdisciplinary, with a strong psychosocial focus, and that was prepared to take risks, considering papers that reflected the early development and testing of a concept or of an approach, rather than waiting for the final word. The success of the journal globally has confirmed that vision, and for me the experience of working with Steve has been one of appreciating his wisdom as well as his kindness. Steve's advice and counsel has consistently been both thoughtful and perceptive, and this has been evident in both his contribution to the development of the journal and in his research and scholarship over the years. When I needed a chapter on family caregiving for a Handbook I was editing, Steve was the first choice – and provided a brilliant overview of this complex field wedded with sound clinical guidance. I have to record though one failure; this was our attempt in a 2008 Aging & Mental Health editorial (vol. 12 (4), 411–412) to ‘throw down the gauntlet’ to our readers to develop better screening tools for dementia than the ubiquitous MMSE, to end its unchallenged dominance. There have been attempts, but somehow the MMSE keeps bouncing back, for all its faults, continuing to be recommended as a core outcome measure. Perhaps there must always be ‘one that got away’. Thanks Steve, for wise words and encouragement. (Bob Woods)
Kee-Lee Chou adds ‘At the beginning of my editorship, Steve walked me through how to be an editor and is always available to provide support. He nurtures the young scholars and cares about them genuinely. I still regret that I have missed so much opportunities to learn from him in my professional career as well as in personal life. I am sure that his generative work will continue to inspire subsequent generations of gerontologists’. (Kee-Lee Chou)
And lastly Rebecca Allen the new Editor for The Americas notes ‘Dr. Steve Zarit, and the journal Aging and Mental Health, have been critical to my development as a scientist. I published one of my first first-authored manuscripts in this journal along with Dr. Bill Haley in 1997. And what might I say about Steve Zarit? He has, throughout my career since 1994, been a touchstone. He is the definition and embodiment of “mentor”. Thank you, Steve, for your immense contributions to science, to our understanding of caregiving, to this journal, and to my professional and personal development. Namaste’. (Rebecca Allen)
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.