Читать книгу Helping Relationships With Older Adults - Adelle M. Williams - Страница 74

Resilient people share some common qualities that can be cultivated to master any crisis. They stay connected with others, which improves their well-being and quality of life. Resilient people are optimistic and have a sunny outlook on life. They are often spiritual or actively involved in religious faith and know how to overcome negative thinking and difficult times. Resilient people enjoy themselves like children do. They wonder about things, experiment, and laugh. They also give back to others, and the benefit they receive is as great as the support that they are providing. People who help others live longer.

Table 3.1

Source: Walker, L. A. (2001, September 16). We can control how we age. Parade, pp. 4–5.

Resilient people pick their battles and focus on things over which they have some influence and avoid spending time on things they can’t control. They stay healthy by following a good diet and engaging in regular physical activity that tends to buffer stress. Exercise helps to repair neurons in brain areas that are particularly susceptible to stress. Resilient people convert misfortune into good luck and gain strength from adversity. They see negative events as opportunities to better themselves (Howard, 2009). Research conducted by Fry and Keyes (2010) emphasizes resilience. Successful aging and personality addresses the potential to maximize an individual’s potential given particular personality traits or, conversely, the ability of an individual to modify pliable traits that are not compatible with successful aging.

Case Illustration 3.1 is an example of an older woman who demonstrates resiliency. She is actively engaged in life, financially prepared to manage her expenses, engages in healthy behaviors, and displays optimism.

Case Illustration 3.1

Mrs. Lesser is a retired attorney who is 85 years old. She is living comfortably in a retirement community and travels extensively. Her investments, assets, and pensions are more than adequate to meet her personal financial obligations. She plays golf during the summer and swims indoors during the winter. She runs a small business making flowers, eats a well-balanced diet, and has no medical problems. She takes a multivitamin, calcium supplement, vitamin C capsule, fish oil supplement, and vitamin D₃. She attributes her excellent cognitive skills and mental health to her work, healthy diet, active engagement with family and friends, and providing companionship to members of her church who need emotional support. She also believes that the decisions individuals make earlier in life can either help or hinder them later on. Therefore, making healthy lifestyle choices, managing her finances, and staying focused on what is important in life has enabled her to age comfortably.