The Relationship Between Family Resilience and Aging Successfully

Abstract

Aging families encounter non-normative and age-related challenges that often cause stress on the family system. The concept of family resilience provides a relevant strength-based perspective for recognizing the multigenerational transitions and challenges encountered by families as they age. Based on the existing family resilience and successful aging literature we outline and provide potential clinical direction for three key constructs (flexibility, social support, and spirituality/religiosity) which have the largest supportive body of evidence in the aging and resilience literature. Recognizing the characteristics that contribute to aging well through a family resilience lens lays the foundation for strength-based intervention with aging families.During the last 100 years, the human lifespan has nearly doubled. Currently one out every eight Americans is over 65 years of age and this number is expected to grow exponentially over the next two decades (Moody, 2005). While there is vast heterogeneity in aging, the nature of adversities encountered by older adults and their families are different

Dying Fit or Not—Physical Activity as Antidote to Death?

“…This perspective on active or successful aging has received critique. First, it is difficult to define success and for whom what is successful (Jeste et al, 2013;Martin et al, 2015). Second, elderly people might experience themselves as successfully aging without meeting the objective criteria for successful aging by exercising (Jeste et al, 2013;Montross et al, 2006;Vahia et al, 2012).…”

Application of the Family Resilience Framework to Dyadic Shared Decision-Making in Dialysis: An Interpretive Phenomenological Inquiry

“…Systems-level assessment and intervention that is framed by the Family Resilience Framework (FRF) may help the dialysis interdisciplinary team (IDT), including the patient and decision partner dyad, identify resources to respond to ecosystemic splits in healthcare that present threats to resilience (Walsh, 2004). Promoting the key processes of family resilience empowers the family to take proactive steps, to buffer disruptions, reduce risks of dysfunction, and support positive adaptation and resourcefulness to meet future challenges (Martin et al, 2015). While partnering with patient/decision partner dyads in modality discernment, the nephrology social worker should attend to the linkage between the presenting symptoms and family stressors.…”

“…Clear and honest communication, open emotional expression, and collaborative problem-solving help the family transition from a crisis-reactive to a proactive response (Walsh, 2004). A focus on family strengths (rather than deficiencies) and attunement to the influence of close relationships on personal outcomes shape both the processes and outcomes of family resilience (Martin et al, 2015).…”

“…Families collaborating as functional units with these key resilience-promoting processes (e.g., belief systems, organizational patterns, communication) mediate the risk of maladaptation and encourage the potential for growth when a crisis or stressful change occurs, thereby promoting family resilience (Martin et al, 2015;Walsh, 2004;Walsh, 2016).…”

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“…In contrast to focusing on individually based traits, researchers interested in family resilience emphasize the critical role of close relationships on personal outcomes. Three key concepts that have been cited as being important to successful aging from a family-resilience stance include flexibility, social support, and spirituality/religiosity (Martin, Distelberg, & Elahad, 2015).…”