Educational Initiatives for the Elderly Dr Rick Swindell

* Educational Initiatives for the Elderly Dr Rick Swindell Co-founder of U 3 A Online www. u 3 aonline. org. au

* What I’ll talk about • Successful Ageing • Some international and national educational initiatives for the elderly • Virtual learning programs and ideas U 3 A Online World U 3 A Wikis Constituency research

* Ageing population - greater responsibility placed on older people everywhere to maximise their chances for independence • Healthy Ageing • Successful Ageing • Ageing Well • Active Ageing • Productive Ageing The lifestyle choices we make

Essentials for Successful Ageing “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Active mind active body Follow sound health-related advice *

* Active mind active body The Foresight Project “Learning must continue throughout life. This can have a direct effect on mental health and well-being across all age groups, and has particular promise in older people. ” Beddington et al. The mental wealth of nations. Nature, vol 455, Oct 2008, 1070 -1060. Physiological benefits of exercise for elderly well documented cardiovascular, strength, balance, stretching Improve blood flow to the brain Help stimulate release of factors critical to brain growth

Essentials for Successful Ageing * Social networks. Death of loved one, caregiver, incapacity, retirement etc Engage with life “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Active mind active body Follow sound health-related advice

Essentials for Successful Ageing Do interesting things Social networks Engage with life “Successful Aging” (Rowe & Kahn 1998) Active mind active body Many later life learning Follow sound organisations are health-related “Successful advice Ageing” organisations *

* Some major later life learning initiatives • North America • France • UK • China • Hong Kong • Internet-based

* USA and Canada v. Nancy Merz-Nordstrom – Director: Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN) Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) - 2002 93 university-based programs in 39 states Elderhostel Educational travel since 1975 1988 Elderhostel Information Network (EIN) Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLI) • Started 1962; now 1000+ programs • University/College based • Volunteer teachers/administrators Must entice baby boomers Short courses 1 -5 weeks; personal enrichment; weekends and evenings;

* France 1973 Universités du Troisième ge (UTA) “The French Model” (university based) Many European countries, Quebec, other countries

UK 1981 • “The British Model” (Self-help U 3 As) • Community-based (not university) • 700 groups; 200, 000 members • Subject networks – members share courses *

China v Jean Thompson – 2004 AIUTA Congress Shanghai Ø 1980 s - army, big companies, mines, universities, etc Ø 28, 000 organisations with > 2. 3 million members • < 1% of 300 million older people *

Curriculum Courses short-term or 1 -3 years. Seven categories: • health care • physical exercises • study courses, (eg literature, history, geography, languages) • skills (eg computer skills, finance, cookery, gardening) • arts (eg calligraphy, painting, music, dancing) • hobbies, (eg travel, photography and stamp collecting) • political topics Ø Social contact valued equally or more than new knowledge *

Teaching Ø Expert teachers - nominal salary; assisted by volunteers Ø Teaching - relaxed and flexible, to suit students' needs • Discussion groups – current events • Study tours • Exhibitions, competitions • New text books in cooperation with national publishers • Central Radio/TV University to set up special courses *

* Hong Kong Elder Academies Dr. Leong Chi Hung, Peter Wong & EC Secretariat 2007 – Labour and Welfare Bureau & Elderly Commission • 78 EAs primary and secondary schools • 2008 – 7 tertiary institutions • Compulsory health courses + electives (academic, arts, sport) • Intergenerational harmony emphasis (young people volunteer)

Summary: Major Educational Initiatives for the Elderly North America: 1962: LLI; Elderhostel UK: 1981 self -help U 3 As China: 1980 s UAs France: 1973 UTA; AIUTA 1975 Republic of SA 2000: 14 self-help groups * Japan 1960 s: UAs 2008: India Society of U 3 As; 2010 Symposium Australia/NZ 1984: 270 self-help groups

In later life, participation threatened by: • Death of a loved one • Divorce • Illness/Incapacity • Relocation • Being a carer • Poor transport Many older people become isolated (even in large cities) U 3 A Online – a virtual U 3 A open to all older people *

* U 3 AOL Project Goals Funded 1998 IYOP project A virtual U 3 A for isolated older people everywhere Cooperative ventures with similar online organisations

* www. u 3 aonline. org. au

* Cooperative ventures (eg TAT)

* Comments from isolated participants I am partially blind with limited short sight. I am extremely grateful to U 3 AOnline as I now have an interest at home - am happy working on my own and life has again a meaning. I’ll go as far as to say that being totally absorbed in my most recent online course has saved my sanity this year. I care for my wife who has Alzheimers. Have done so for the past 8 years. I love "virtual meeting" people from other regions, walks of life, with different viewpoints I am the primary carer for my frail mother who at nearly 100 needs full time care now. Being able to access a service like this is one way to feel less isolated from the world outside.

* World U 3 A http: //worldu 3 a. org/

* • Intergenerational • Research possibilities

* Wikis - a free Internet tool for collaboration a wiki is … • a web page that can be easily changed by all members • very easy to set up and modify • ideal for U 3 A members to share ideas • free

* http: //redlandsu 3 a. pbwiki. com/

* http: //u 3 amusicgroups. pbwiki. com/

* Send email to ricks 1912@optusnet. com. au to get email copy of Signpost sent each month

How to set up your own wiki 2) Download and print 18 page document 1) Click Research/Reports from drop-down menu *

* Constituency Research by older people with older people Some U 3 A examples • 1990 -1994: a virtual U 3 A by telephone • 2002 -2006: A voice worth listening to • 2008/09: Australian and NZ research study

Summary • 5 elements of Successful Ageing • Later life learning programs as models of Successful Ageing • Isolated seniors are everywhere in the community. Internet-based learning programs improve their quality of life • Cooperative projects through the Internet *

* Conclusion Hong Kong Elder Academies are successful ageing organisations. U 3 A Online World U 3 A Others … EA participants are invited to join the world-wide community of older learners, teachers, researchers and innovators