Description/Overview: Dignity is an inherent human characteristic and a dynamic, attributed part of the self is susceptible to human and environmental interaction. In the first paper we present an ecological model exploring the dignity of older adults as a form of resilient health potential to enhance well-being in later life. Through a synthesis of the literature we demonstrate how societal, community, family/interpersonal, and individual factors can combine to threaten the dignity of community-dwelling older adults. Chronic exposure to these threats can lead to maladaptive stress responses, cellular aging, pathological changes, and increased risk of mortality. In the second paper, we demonstrate the relationships among the factors of attributed dignity and health. Attributed dignity, measured by the Jacelon Attributed Dignity Scale (JADS), is a concept composed of four factors. It is a dynamic sense of self-value (SV), self in relation to others (SRO), perceived value from others (PVO), and behavior that demonstrates respect toward others (BRO). Using Semantic Equation Modeling (SEM), we found that PVO directly affected both SRO and BRO, and BRO directly affected SV. Self Value directly influenced mental health, and physical health indirectly. In the third paper, grounded theory was used to explore how older adults managed their dignity. Older individuals told stories of situations in which their dignity was supported or diminished and the strategies used to recover. Interactions that enhanced dignity were focused on the unique contributions of the older individual and included honor and respect from others. Interactions that diminished dignity included evidence of racism, classism, or ageism. The older individuals used introspective, active, and interactive strategies to mitigate threats to their dignity. By locating dignity within the context of an ecological model, then exploring how dignity affects mental and physical health, and finally how individuals manage dignity we identify the meaning of dignity in the later years.