Social Inequity and Resilience
As discussed in the previous section, resilience factors operate at different levels and vary between contexts. A person’s ability to adapt to challenges and their coping process is relative and highly influenced by their culture. Culture influences a person’s morals, norms, life purpose, and day-to-day interactions with others. Hence, the meaningful factors that make a person more resilient are varied. For example, Sánchez-Moreno et al. (2021) found that Indigenous group memberships and cultural continuity improve rural Indigenous older persons’ well-being and prevent them from suffering mental health problems. On the other hand, these factors are less significant for the non-Indigenous population in Chile.
For Activity 5, use a different case story from the one the student used in this module. Ask students to identify the resilience factors in this particular case. Then, prompt the students to compare the resilience factors between the two people and identify the similarities and differences. Bring the discussion by asking the students to consider the social categories of people in the two cases and how they influence the resilience factors.
Activity 5 – Case Stories
Pick a case story different from the ones you used in this module and explore:
- What factors influence the resilience of the older person in the story?
- What social categories are relevant to the older person’s resilience in the story?
- How do these social categories affect the older person’s resilience in the story?
Now compare the case story to the one you used for the previous activities. Are there any differences between the resilience factors of the two cases?
Activity 6
To further the discussion, ask the students to identify the most relevant categories for the older person and change one category to a different one. Ask them to see if this change significantly affects the person’s experience. Does changing a social category influence their life? For example, does this change what is crucial for them to age in place (i.e., being healthy with enough support to live safely and independently in one’s home and community)?
The idea of aging in place varies across cultures. For example, to consider the resilience of an older person from a sexual minority group, you may want to engage in activities and resources that allow them to maintain their identity and provide them with positive social connections. Safe and inclusive healthcare services and resources are crucial for maintaining physical health. For the next activity, prompt students to position themselves as a healthcare provider for the people in the previous cases and identify ways they can support the people in these cases to improve their resilience.
Activity 7
Position yourself as a healthcare provider of the people in activity 5, and identify ways you can support them and improve their resilience.
For an alternative activity, consider the caregiver of the people in activity 5 and identify ways you can support the caregiver and improve their resilience.
Below are some additional resources on resilience across cultures:
Resources
Sanchez-Moreno, E., Gallardo-Peralta, L. P., & Leyton, C. (2021). The Social Gradient in Mental Health and Well-Being for Indigenous Older Adults Living in Rural Areas: A Cross-Sectional Comparison With Rural Non-indigenous Population in Chile. Journal of Aging and Health, 33(5–6), 287–299. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264320979201
Wells, M. (2009). Resilience in rural community-dwelling older adults. The Journal of Rural Health : Official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, 25(4), 415–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2009.00253.x
Wells, M. (2010). Resilience in older adults living in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Online Journal of Rural Nursing & Health Care, 10(2), 45–54. https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v10i2.55
Xie, L., Zhou, J., Deng, Y., Richmond, C. J., & Na, J. (2019). Resilience and affect balance of empty-nest older adults with mild cognitive impairment in poor rural areas of Hunan province, China. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 19(3), 222–227. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.13601