The Learning Needs of Older Adults

The capacity of older adults to remain physically, mentally, and socially active is partly dependent on continued participation in learning and education. Older adults, however, often are not considered as likely candidates for learning. We conducted two studies to gain a better understanding of learning among adults over 70 years of age. In the first study, we interviewed 17 older adults about their learning needs, the barriers they perceived to meeting these needs, and their efficacy for overcoming these barriers. We used the results of that study to construct a learning needs, barriers, and efficacy questionnaire, which was completed by 160 older adults. The least important needs were those associated with technology; the most important needs were associated with transportation, health, and safety. The strongest barriers were those associated with physical disabilities; the weakest barriers were associated with other people. In general, participants were confident they could successfully address needs related to health, safety, leisure, and transportation but not those associated with technology