Lifetime Experiences Help Older Adults Build Resilience to Pandemic Trauma

New research focuses on how seniors' lifetime of experience and perspective makes them resilient to disruptive trauma like the current pandemic, reports Kaiser Health News . The work demonstrates that older adults have amended behaviors as they attempt to keep safe. According to a new study in The Gerontologist , older adults have listened to public health authorities and taken action to minimize the risk of coronavirus infection. Habits they have adopted include less face-to-face time with family and friends, restricting trips to the grocery store, canceling plans to attend celebrations, turning down out-of-town trips, not attending funerals, taking fewer trips to public places, and canceling doctors' appointments. Another study in the same journal looked at seniors' adaptations, which include connecting with family and friends, engagement on digital platforms, hobbies, interacting with pets, spending time with spouses or partners, and reliance on faith. However, it remains uncertain whether these coping strategies will prove effective as the pandemic persists. The University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging highlights social isolation and loneliness's growing strain on the older population, with most respondents reporting that social media and video chats did not relieve them of these feelings.