With the coronation of the septuagenarian King Charles III taking place this month, it’s inevitable that we also reflect on his mother, Queen Elizabeth, whose reign was the longest of any British monarch and the longest of any female head of state in history.

Whether you are pro-monarchy or not, or maybe just an avid viewer of Netflix’s The Crown, there is one undeniable trait of this historic monarch that is often cited as core to her longevity – resilience.

There is a vast amount of information readily available for people of all ages on the topic of resilience. From websites that reassure us that emotional resilience helps us handle daily challenges and any crises that come along, to advice to spend time in nature and be kind to ourselves in order to build resilience, there is a lot of very helpful information about the importance of self-care and its links to resilience.

Interestingly, there is less information to help us grow our strength by following the example of older generations.  Resilience in older people is not something that is held up as a benchmark for younger generations or even something to look forward to. But as we age, we become more resilient and never has this been truer than for those aged over seventy-five today. Like the late Queen, it is this group of people who experienced, a World War, conflicts in Asia and Africa, the Falklands War, four global recessions, joining and leaving economic unions with Europe, power shortages, mass strike action, climate change and latterly a global pandemic.  They know what works to make us more resilient and, more importantly, what doesn't. Far too often, older people are simply asked ‘what’s the secret to a long life?’ in terms of how to survive into old age rather than to share their wisdom on how to thrive despite the hardships that all of us have to face.

The “paradox of ageing” states that as we age – i.e. as we decline - we feel happier. One element of this is the acceptance that as we age our physical and cognitive abilities may reduce but this does not lessen our ability to overcome life’s challenges. For many older people, internal factors such as self-esteem, purpose, hope, humour and self-acceptance become more embedded and in tune with the world around us.

These positive traits alone do not however determine resilience. Studies have found that internal factors  that lead to resilience in older people are heavily conditioned by an older person’s access to social networks, social  support, and integration and social connectedness within their community. 

Re-engage helps older people to connect, not only building upon the internal foundation of an older person’s resilience but also by reducing isolation and loneliness. And their resilience is inspirational and infectious for the younger people they meet.