title: Resilience and vision impairment in older people.
abstract: Some people fare better than others when faced with adversity; they appear to be more 'resilient'. This article explores the concept of resilience in the context of vision impairment using two linked sets of narrative interview data from 2007 to 2010. Three case studies were analysed in detail using a framework approach based upon a social-ecological model of resilience and vision impairment. Within the model a range of assets and resources are identified which influence an individual's capacity for resilience. A set of criteria were used to establish the extent to which each individual appeared to be resilient at each point in time. Analysis revealed that it is not merely the presence or absence of individual, social, and community resources - but how these resources interact with each other - that influences resilience and can create a risk to wellbeing. To possess only some of these resources is not sufficient; there is a co-dependency between these resources which requires the presence of other resources for resilience to be achieved. Resilience is not a fixed state; individuals can become more or less resilient as their circumstances and resources change over time. We suggest that the concept of resilience has much to offer the field of vision impairment as it allows the identification of enablers as well as areas of barriers to improving people's health and wellbeing and suggests further opportunities for service providers to engage with clients, even those who appear to be supported, as people's social, economic and emotional landscapes continue to change over time, rather than identifying deficit.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Clare.thetford@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thetford
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: K.M.Bennett@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Research, Furness College, Lancaster University, LA1 4YG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: S.Hodge@lancaster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.affiliation: Eye & Vision Science, Institute of Ageing & Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Thompson Yates Building, L693GB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: pcknox@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: J.E.Robinson@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012944:Social Support; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: AMD; Older people; Resilience; Sight loss; Successful ageing; Visual/vision impairment