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Successful Aging and Resilience: Applications for Public Health and Health Care

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Resilience in Aging

Abstract

The stories of Albert and Patricia are examples of typical older adults in America who have met the challenges of their lives in a variety of ways using their personal and social resources. Older adults like our examples are living longer, yet there is great debate whether extended life expectancies translate into more quality years. Diversity within the aging population is widely recognized (Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics 2008), and scientists are diligently working to identify concepts to help us understand the aging processes and the experiences of older adults in a rapidly aging society. Among the factors contributing to the diversity seen in aging trajectories are patterns of responses to challenges experienced throughout the lifespan. In this chapter, we discuss the concepts of successful aging and resilience using the experiences of our fictitious characters, Albert and Patricia. First, we describe successful aging and the contribution of resilience to the process of successful aging. Second, we give examples of public health and health care interventions that may enhance resilience in ways that promote healthy aging among older adults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, TX, USA

    Angela K. Hochhalter

  2. Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA

    Angela K. Hochhalter

Authors
  1. Angela K. Hochhalter
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  2. Matthew Lee Smith
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  3. Marcia G. Ory
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angela K. Hochhalter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, 21201, Maryland, USA

    Barbara Resnick

  2. Center for the Study of Aging and Human, Duke University, Durham, 27710, North Carolina, USA

    Lisa P. Gwyther

  3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State, Center for Gerontology, Blacksburg, 24061, Virginia, USA

    Karen A. Roberto

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Hochhalter, A.K., Smith, M.L., Ory, M.G. (2011). Successful Aging and Resilience: Applications for Public Health and Health Care. In: Resnick, B., Gwyther, L., Roberto, K. (eds) Resilience in Aging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0232-0_2

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