Breaking the Age Barrier

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester, LE1 6TP, UK. Tel: +44-1162-044200; Fax: +44-1162-044262; e-mail: enquiries@niace.org.uk; Web site: http://www.niace.org.uk/publications/adults-learning

N

3

Educational Benefits; Aging (Individuals); Adult Education; Adult Learning; Barriers; Foreign Countries; Community Education; Lifelong Learning; Change Strategies; Educational Change

0955-2308

When people retire today they can expect to live for longer than ever before. So much so, that the lifespan model has moved to encompass a "fourth age" of over-75s, for whom an integral part of life is the ability to learn. However, only 14% of people over 75 have engaged in any learning in the past three years. As the pressure on public spending tightens over the coming months and years, more innovative ways of demonstrating the benefits of learning to older people, governments and communities will have to be found. For many people the transition into later life is a time of change--retirement, bereavement, and adaptation to the shifting world. Learning can be a fantastic way of dealing with such challenges, helping people stay integrated in their communities. In this article, the author reflects on the challenges and prospects facing the over-75s age group in a fast-changing and financially constrained policy landscape. She suggests that policymakers need to look closely at the benefits of learning for the over-75s.

ERIC

2010

EJ900006