What does "growing old gracefully" mean (this has nothing to do with "looks", but rather attitude)? What issues in Older Adulthood contribute to making this easier or harder? What does it mean to be resilient? Describe the most important buffers a person in their older years may have to help them live life to the fullest. How can one prepare and develop buffers before this point?

Answer:

Ageing is a normal process and old age is the latter part of the life where the body ages, the health deteriorates, as this is the age where the body-immunity weakens making the person more susceptible to sickness. This is the time where the children grow up and move away from home to settle in their life making the elderly parents feel lonely. We often engage in colouring our hair, dress younger and feel younger, but ageing is not about looking younger. It's about accepting the change with integrity and maturity.

According to the psychological theory, when an individual has a strong sense of integrity and trust and withstands with the physical changes, then the person gains the virtue of wisdom. Oldage has its issues and problems, in fact in every phase of life, we are to face different problems and stress. Problems are the part of life, we can’t deny them, but can accept them, avoid them, face them or carry them along. If we are unable to accept the fact that ageing will lead to some amount of loneliness, physical weakness, health deterioration, then we are to be in despair and would never reach to the gain the wisdom. Some of the positive lifestyle changes can act as a buffer to make us accept the age happily and gracefully, with resilience. A) After retirement, instead of spending a sedentary life, we need to engage ourselves in different activities like gardening, volunteering, old friends-reunion, fun-activities like laughing clubs, etc. B) Taking care of our body and mind, like exercise, yoga, brisk walking in the park barefoot to feel the grass, mindful presence etc. C) Keeping a gratitude diary can help us feel contented, resilient and remind us to be happy about many things. D) Nurture relationships with spouse, children and grandchildren, leaving behind the hard feelings. E) We can engage in small earning by doing light works, that will make us feel purposeful. F) Having regular medical check-ups are important, avoid physical hazards, prevent getting hurt, are the tips that can make you stay fit.