Determinants of resilience for people ageing in remote places: a case study in northern Australia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how people managed to stay resilient as they aged in remote places. In Western developed countries, "successful ageing" is associated with older people's right to age in their chosen place. To remain resilient, older people require support to supplement diminishing self-reliance associated with increasing frailty. Such support services do not extend to remote communities, making it difficult to age in place. This article reports on a case study of ageing in remote places, from the perspective of seniors within a small community in remote northern Australia. The study found how older people attempt through volunteer efforts, to supplement the gaps in aged support services. This collective effort to achieve ageing in place demonstrated greater integration with place and social resilience within the community. However, seniors' social resilience was seen as tenuous, given collective self-reliance is based on volunteer efforts of older people.

Care for frail older adults in the community: an integrative review

“…Similarly, another study maintains that the family support network, relatives, neighbors and friends reduced anxiety, hospitalization, and were recognized as fundamental to well-being 35 . There is a correlation between social support and resilience, contributing to a better quality of life for older adults 35,37 . Social and community life is expressed as a possibility for compensating for losses 42 .…”

Enhancing Resilience in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Rapid Review of the Evidence and Implications for Public Health Practitioners

“…Nitschke et al (18) concludes that social connectedness reduces mortality during a heat wave. Supporting this, Severinsen et al (19) and Gibb (26) contend older adults value friendships and social connections with the community, neighbors, and family along with the sense of feeling in place. In fact, this sense of belonging and acceptance not only improves the well-being of older adults but enhances their independence and can reduce the health costs associated with aging (19, 23).…”

“…Moylan et al (28) identify tangible community resources such as infrastructure and facilities which provide a place for interaction and help to facilitate inter-personal reflection which is essential for fostering meaning and purpose, whilst enhancing the ability for community members to connect with the moment, to self, to others, and to their environment. This engenders a sense of belonging in those who live in the community, which is acknowledged by Gibb (26) as necessary for sustaining resilience.…”

“…While there has been considerable targeting of personal capacities within personal resilience research, particularly toward those who have psychological issues or disease, it does appear that interventions targeting general community resilience also spill over to increase personal resilience (9, 10). Those activities consistently cited as contributing to community resilience include: - Volunteering (26);- Collective action and participation (29–31);- Collaborative decision making (36, 40);- Community learning through collaborative action (33, 34). …”

“…Community-dwelling older adults play an important role in communities through their volunteering efforts. Seaman et al (1) highlight volunteering's economic contribution to resilience, while Gibb (26) suggests volunteering helps older people to supplement gaps in aged support services. In many instances, volunteering provides older adults with additional social support and networks beyond their family, and an increased sense of belonging, meaning and purpose in life (22).…”