Conclusion: The Key to Successful Aging
This book provides a comprehensive look at the many aspects of resilience and the ways in which older adults can develop resilience, be resilient, and overcome challenges experienced throughout the aging process. The chapter authors provide several different conceptualizations of resilience. For example, Allen et al. (Chap. 1) note that resilience encompasses the processes of being mindful and prioritizing behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that facilitate contentment within one’s specific developmental, physical, emotional, and spiritual context. Smith et al. (Chap. 2) refer to resilience as a long, ongoing process developed across the life course through previous experience of hardship, such as the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and a serious illness. Rosowsky in Chap. 3 defines resilience as the ability to bounce back and recover after a major stress or negative life event. Across the many definitions and descriptions of resilience provided, resilience is conceptualized to reflect an effective response to some type of adversity or challenge, whether this is physical, psychological, economic, political, environmental, or social. Further, Resnick notes that ultimately the goal with resilience is to not only bounce back and recover but to bounce forward and establish resilient reintegration and growth from the challenging experience.
