Senior citizens can benefit from educational activities in many ways.
For many senior citizens, retirement isn't the end of their active years but a time to challenge themselves in a different way. AARP, an nonprofit organization that helps people over the age of 50 live better lives, report that 54.2 million people between the ages of 55 and 79 that were surveyed said that they planned to remain actively involved despite their age or retirement. According to research from as early as the 1990s, people who continue their educational pursuits may benefit from longer, happier, healthier lives because they remain stimulated by new concepts and contacts through lifelong learning. Taking part in education activities can benefit any senior citizen's life.
Advantages of Lifelong Learning
Education opens doors for most people, and for senior citizens it provides a way to learn, connect with others, and develop a new hobby or a new career. This is a time when many senior citizens can claim their life as their own: They are finished raising their family, working a 40-hour-a-week job, and attending PTA meetings. Many senior citizens want to learn or perfect a leisure-time activity, such as digital photography. Some will choose to return to school to prepare for a second career. Whatever the reason, becoming a lifelong learner provides health benefits as well as intellectual ones. Lifelong learning helps keep the mind and memory sharp. It improves self-image and confidence. Taking classes with others also gives the senior citizen a way to meet people with similar interests. Completing a course provides a sense of accomplishment.
College Learning Opportunities
Many senior citizens choose to take classes at colleges, universities and local community or junior colleges. Some colleges offer reduced tuition for seniors and alumni. Classes can be taken either for credit, or not for credit. Most colleges offer classes developed specifically for senior citizens, such as computer skills, tax preparation and travel planning, but there are also some senior citizens who return to college full time to get their degree and even live on the college campus.
Online Classes and Tutorials
Whether looking for a class on world history or a class on make a wedding ring quilt, seniors can find it on the Internet. Many colleges offer a wide variety of credit courses as well as hobby and special interest classes online. AARP offers a driving skills test for seniors, and there are websites on genealogy that provide tutorials on research a family tree. The Small Business Administration offers free classes on computer applications and tutorials on draft a business plan. The Internet opens the door to learning without putting on your coat or getting in your car.
Group Travel and Learning
There is no better way to learn than with a group of people who share your interests. There are groups around the country that sponsor educational trips with a built-in focused learning element. Road Scholar, formerly called Elderhostel, offers educational trips for seniors. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes provide member-developed classes that are designed with seniors in mind. There are no tests and no homework. The classes are set in a congenial atmosphere. The Institute of Learning in Retirement has over 400 learning centers nationwide that emphasize education, conversation and travel. Group learning can change the scenery and your outlook on education.
Other Learning Opportunities
Another source of cost-effective classes is at the local senior center, park district, and even religious or church groups. Courses offered can range from crafts and hobbies to music appreciation. Many offer group trips at a greatly reduced price. Some areas of the country offer adult classes as part of their local school district, providing another source of classes and a way to connect to other seniors.
Tags: senior citizens, colleges offer, benefit from, educational trips, Learning Opportunities, Lifelong Learning