Assessing resilience.

As more studies reveal the positive relationships between resilience and aging well, mental health practitioners are increasingly interested in recognizing and strengthening resilience among aging Baby Boomers. Although there is much information on characteristics of resilience, there is very little research on assessing for resilience. This article presents a framework for assessing resilience among middle-aged and older adults that includes the Resilience Scale and open-ended questions to provide clients opportunities to reflect on and perhaps rediscover their resilience. This assessment framework may be useful for mental health practitioners using a strengths-based approach with their clients.