Resilience in older adults is characterized by their unique strengths and circumstances that help them maintain high functional ability and intrinsic capacity throughout their lives. Enhancing happiness and positive experiences can significantly boost resilience in older adults, with self-compassion playing a crucial role in preserving their well-being and leading to more fulfilling lives.Compassion training is essential in healthcare education and serve as a modifiable internal resource among healthcare providers and caregivers in fostering healthy attitudes towards aging and the older adults they care for. This study aimed to help nurses and prospective caregivers cultivate resilience through experiences and embodiments of essential compassion elements such as kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. By integrating their own life experiences, participants would be better prepared psychologically for their encounters with older adults in healthcare settings or other work sectors. Sixty students from various backgrounds participated in an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion program. A pre- and post-program questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale measured self-kindness vs. self-judgment, connectedness vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. over-identification. Result showed improvements in self-kindness and mindfulness, with reduced feelings of isolation and self-judgment. Qualitative feedback from participants gained a better understanding of older adults, more accepting of their own challenges, and acknowledged the adversities faced by older adults. They also learned to appreciate their daily experiences and could help older adults savor their life contributions.

Authors:
Sau Kuen Lo, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Man Yee Tse, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Sau Kuen Lo is currently the Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Health Sciences in the Hong Kong Metropolitan University in Hong Kong. Ms Lo has keen interest in promoting resilience among health care providers and delivering mindfulness based programmes for educators and health care providers.

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