My greatest fear about aging is losing my motor skills. Physically, I would experience tremendous discomfort and likely need a caregiver to assist me. Simple daily activities, such as waking up, getting out of bed, and using the bathroom, could become difficult or impossible to do independently.

Emotionally, losing my independence would take a significant toll on me. Adjusting from being self-sufficient to relying on someone else would be challenging. I might also worry about whether my caregiver and I would get along, especially because my mother, who is a caregiver, has shared how difficult that relationship can sometimes be. Socially, I would probably go out less because every activity would require more effort and planning. As a result, my social interactions and relationships might decline. Financially, caregiving and medical assistance could be very expensive. I hope I would qualify for financial support, but without assistance, the cost could become overwhelming.

My initial reaction to this condition is fear. I imagine feeling severely limited and unable to live life as I once did. I might feel like a burden to my caregiver, and I worry that I could lose some of my excitement about life. My harshest thought would be, “What is the point if I cannot do anything on my own?” However, I also recognize that this reaction comes from my fear of losing independence and may not fully reflect the possibility of adapting, finding support, and continuing to experience purpose and meaningful relationships.

One thing that stood out to me in the reading was the importance of coping. Learning healthy coping skills at a young age can strengthen our resilience and prepare us to handle unexpected stressors as we grow older.

Generalized Resistance Resource (GRR) I would use is my personal coping ability. If I lost my motor skills, I would have to accept that I needed assistance and find a caregiver who could help me with daily activities. I would also hope to have supportive family members and friends. Since it might be difficult for me to go out, they may need to visit me instead. I would have to adjust my lifestyle to accommodate my limited motor skills.

Community resources would also be important. I would need access to healthcare, physical or occupational therapy, and mobility devices. My faith in God would help me cope emotionally, accept my limitations, and find meaning in my life. Most importantly, having savings would be a valuable resource because many services and forms of assistance can be difficult to obtain without enough money. My mother is a caregiver, and she has often explained the differences she sees between clients who have sufficient financial resources and those who do not.

In this situation, resilience would mean accepting the changes in my abilities and finding healthy ways to adapt. I would choose a caregiver who fits my needs, use available resources, stay connected with the people I love, and continue finding meaning and purpose in my life despite my limited motor skills.

Rycroft et al. (2019) examines  cognitive impairment and upper extremity functioning among adults age 65 and older. The research found that participants with mild cognitive impairment had slower relation time and hand movements as well as greater difficulty completing activities involving arms and hands. This research relates to my concern about losing motor skills because it shows how motor impairment can reduce an older adults ability to compete daily activities independently. 

Werner et al. (2026) evaluated a 12-week home based exercise and physical activity intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment who had recently completed inpatient rehabilitation. Participants who received the intervention experienced small improvements in walking speed, stride length, and the length of their continuous walking periods. However, these improvements were not maintained at the 12 week follow up, ad the participants did not increase their total amount of daily walking. This study shows that home-based exercise improve mobility temporarily but older adults may need to continued support and exercise to maintain the benefits. 

Reference

Rycroft, S. S., Quach, L. T., Ward, R. E., Pedersen, M. M., Grande, L., & Bean, J. F. (2019). The Relationship Between Cognitive Impairment and Upper Extremity Function in Older Primary Care Patients. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 74(4), 568–574. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly246

Werner, C., Ullrich, P., Degli Angeli, L., Trumpf, R., Fleiner, T., Albites-Sanabria, J. L., Palmerini, L., Abel, B., Bongartz, M., Eckert, T., Bauer, J. M., & Hauer, K. (2026). Effects of a home-based exercise and physical activity intervention after inpatient rehabilitation on real-world mobility in older adults with cognitive impairment: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. Age and ageing, 55(6), afag189. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag189