One of the common terms that is relatively new to the field of health care is that of resilience. Resilience refers to an inner strength, one that helps people to overcome adversity and trauma. Resilience helps people to keep going even when things are hard. It helps people to be successful even when things are stacked against them.
Resilience is necessary if someone is going to overcome hardship and thrive despite it. Several years ago, a study was done that has commonly come to be referred to as the ACES study. ACES is an acronym that stands for adverse childhood experiences. These experiences can be incredibly traumatic, such as abuse, abandonment, exposure to drugs or alcohol, the death of a loved one, and more. And although these experiences occurred during childhood, the ACES study found that the impact lasts an entire lifetime.
These childhood experiences are far more common than you might think. According to the CDC, it’s estimated that 61 percent of adults experienced at least one adverse childhood experience that still has a lasting impact on their quality of life. These effects include things like propensity for drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness, obesity, and having one or more sexually transmitted infection. These things can lead to long lasting health issues and can last well into the senior years.
Another way to think about this is to look at “Broken Heart Disease.” This is a phenomenon that often happens when one person in a longtime relationship passes away, and then the other passes away shortly afterwards. Why are some people impacted by this and some not? Researchers now believe that resilience plays a role in this. When protective factors are not in place, someone with poor resilience practices and a weakened immune system, death is sometimes the outcome.
So what do we do about this? Research shows that kids can be strengthened through resilience factors. Relationships that help them build self worth and find value in their lives and what they do can help to offset ACES. By being a loving and caring presence, we can have a positive impact on someone’s life and their future health.
There’s very little research out there about helping adults to implement resilience factors, but this are of research is starting to be developed. Early indications look like it is never too late to help people build themselves up. We know that therapy can help, but we also know that just being around others and forming relationships with them can help to improve mental health. This is one of the reasons why in-home care has been so well loved. It has relationship built right into it because of the one on one nature of the service. Those who receive this care often form deep and loving relationships with their caregiver.
We’d love to talk more about senior care, and in-home care specifically. You might find that this is exactly what your family needs. But we recognize that each situation is different and different needs are present. We can help you identify those needs for your family and get you pointed toward the resources that will help you out the most.
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