Background: The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a period of unprecedented uncertainty, profoundly affecting societies worldwide. Older adults often faced heightened risks of isolation and health complications. As research in the aftermath of the pandemic has sought to understand its multifaceted impacts, there remains a notable gap in examining older…

There has not been ample recent research on teaching older adults. However, as described below, there is mounting research in how and why older adults want to learn. This brief discussion is derived from work undertaken for a workshop in Hong Kong on issues in teaching older adults. It combines recent research on learning and teaching in higher…

Workers are remaining in the labor force at older ages; and, despite their desire to work, those without jobs face unprecedented durations of unemployment. Many of the unemployed lack current skills for jobs in demand and need to either upgrade their skills or be trained for a new occupation to become re-employed. An aging workforce combined with…

This paper reports the findings of research on relationships between depression and participation in learning using data from a large sample of older adults. The objective was to establish whether learning can reduce the risk of depression. Data were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a nationally-representative sample of…

Since 2008, Taiwan's Ministry of Education has sponsored a number of short-term residential educational programs aimed at senior citizens and administered by local colleges and universities. In 2009, the Ministry of Education named a project the Elderhostel Program (notwithstanding the lack of involvement by the United States organization, which…

This study aimed to identify the relationships between lifelong learning, quality of life, and self-efficacy of older adults. One thousand and three participants of a lifelong educational program participated; the mean age was 50.6 (SD = 7.8, range: 18-78). Findings revealed that the patterns of study established a positive association with…

This paper addresses the question of benefits of education from a life course perspective. Using data from a study of 1600 students (response rate 48%) on an open access program at a London University college, it explores educational activity within the framework of a transitions model. In addition to the quantitative evidence, the article uses…

In the UK, very few studies have engaged older people in two or more elements of the research process (design, conduct, dissemination). Although there is a body of work on educational gerontology, there are few publications that specifically focus on training older people as coresearchers. This paper reports upon the training program undertaken as…

This conceptual paper contributes to the scholarship on life-long learning programs at public universities. It investigates the unique relationship between these institutions and their state, utilizing Ohio as an illustrative example. A review of several university mission statements illuminates the responsibility of these institutions to their…

Reviews research on effects of interventions aimed at maintaining or improving memory function among older adults including slowing pace of learning, organizing learning materials, training in use of imagery, mnemonics, and supportive environments. Explicates the ways in which findings of laboratory research can be incorporated into educational…

As the population of older adults increases, the field of adult education needs to respond accordingly. The study reported in this paper examined motivations for learning among older adults actively engaged in formal lifelong learning. One hundred eighty-nine members of a Learning in Retirement institute were surveyed using Boshier's Education…

Many older adults will seek additional education during their lifetimes. Since these persons differ widely in their physical, social, intellectual, and psychological characteristics, it is important that these programs be humanistic in design and implementation. (Author)

Presents issues and concerns in education for the older adult. Issues considered are an overview of the aged population, adult education and the older adult, and the older adult's ability to learn. A review of the literature with thoughts for future research is presented. (Author/BEF)

Observation of and interviews with the instructor and seven learners in a retirement center painting class focused on the physical environment, student and teacher-student interaction, and the artwork. Findings revealed a classroom climate characterized by practices for facilitating learning: mutual respect, collaboration, critical thinking, and…

A literature review led to the following categories of factors affecting learning in older adults: major changes in physical capacities, changes in sensory capacities, changes in speed and timing, attitude changes, learning capacity and performance, memory change, and changes in adjustment ability and morale. (SK)