Reframing resilience: Pilot evaluation of a program to promote resilience in marginalized older adults

ABSTRACT

Resilience has been described as a paradigm for aging that is more inclusive than models that focus on physiological and functional abilities. We evaluated a novel program, Resilient Aging, designed to influence marginalized older adults’ perceptions of their resilience, self-efficacy, and wellness. The multiweek group program incorporated an inductive definition of resilience based on group members’ lived experiences. Outcomes evaluation for this pilot study included pre/postassessments on resilience, self-efficacy, and six wellness variables. Twenty-nine participants completed the program. Pre/post-assessment indicated a statistically significant multivariate change across the eight outcome variables. Increases in resilience, physical wellness, and emotional wellness, and decreases in social wellness and intellectual wellness accounted for most of the multivariate change. Resilient Aging is a participant-centered and strengths-based program that has potential for enhancing participants’ perceptions of resilience and wellness. The program can be administered within community settings to promote resilience and wellness among marginalized older adults.

Funding

This work was supported by the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship; and the Association for Adult Development and Aging, a division of the American Counseling Association.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Colette Dollarhide and Dr. Virginia Richardson for their assistance with program design and review of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship; and the Association for Adult Development and Aging, a division of the American Counseling Association.