Community model of healthy aging framed in resilience and generativity

The Research Unit in Gerontology at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES) Zaragoza, from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), has developed a comprehensive model aimed at the promotion of healthy aging within the context of community development. The model is centered on the implementation of intensive educational programs addressed towards groups of older persons in what is known as “Gerontological Nuclei”. Although it is true that there are satisfactory results, one limitation of the model is the difficulty of its implementation without supervision and university support. For this reason, two components have been included: resilience and generativity, which together could positively impact the model by strengthening contextual and personal components that are linked to healthy behavior. The approach of generativity and resilience are basic elements for the strengthening of human capacities during aging, since they can favor the autonomy, independence and decision-making capacity of people in the personal and community spheres. The article presents a model of healthy aging with possibilities of application at community level.