resilience and successful aging

Question 1

defining resilience

Answer 1

Resilience is about surviving, and even striving, in the face of adversity.

Question 2

generally with resilience what do we say

Answer 2

Generally, we do not talk about privileged people being resilient, but when it comes to older adults, this term can be used.
Sometimes surviving adversity does make us stronger – e.g., some of the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Question 3

how does adversity effect resilience

Answer 3

Some forms of adversity dramatically and negatively affect our resilience
- Chronic stressors like poverty, racism, health problems
- Early childhood trauma, deprivation, and healthy problems (e.g., Flint Michigan)

Question 4

overall how can we predict resilience

Answer 4

• Overall, we can predict resilience, when one’s coping and support systems are more powerful than their stressors.

Question 5

the resilience model resources

Answer 5

• Social system that is both wide and deep (several people who can be relied upon)
• Instrumental support including access to local and federal agencies for support
• High levels of cognition and literacy (more ability to adjust and problem solve in order to get access to aid)
• Sense of purpose or transcendent view of community
• Relatively few stressors at one time

Question 6

the resilience model stressors

Answer 6

• Social support system that is either not reliable or limited to one or two people
• Limited access or knowledge of local and federal supports
• Low cognitive and literacy skills (difficulty filling our forms, understanding instructions, etc.)
• Sense of loneliness, isolation, and lack of purpose
• Cumulated Stressors

Question 7

what is longevity including in the lifespan

Answer 7

Longer lifespans associated with other markers of good health throughout the lifespan including:
- Financial Stability
- Access to good nutrition and relatively low levels of environmental pollution
- Increased access to high quality health care
- Increased access to high quality education
- Staying physically active
- Staying socially active
- Trying new things (travel, reading, new cognitive challenges, etc.)

Question 8

a note towards nursing homes and elder care facilities

Answer 8

The decision to put a loved one into a facility is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions a family will make. Things to consider
- Staffing rates and staff turnover rates
- Access of properly licensed health care providers
- Proximity to more intensive medical services

Question 9

examples of volunteerism

Answer 9

• Meals on Wheels and related programs to bring food to people who can’t leave their homes
• Rocking babies in NICU and other facilities
• Blanket making and other craft-based programs
• Community boards and organizations
• Church-based activities

Question 10

the importance of myths

Answer 10

brings us back to Jung and his way of moving to the collective unconscious and the spiritual
- “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again”