Back to School: Seniors Can Be Students Too

When you think about Back To School time, you might picture little kids in their brand new backpacks and sneakers, climbing onto the bus for their first day. Or little kindergarteners clinging to their moms, shy to meet their kindergarten teacher and venture off to their first school experience. But a white-haired grandma ready to learn computer science? Probably not the first thing you picture. And yet, that’s completely possible and probable these days.

Back to school isn’t just for little kids. Seniors can be students too. These days there are more and more resources available for seniors, from free classes at local libraries to higher education courses at prestigious universities, to help them continue learning well into their golden years.

Why Keep Learning

While it might seem seniors have enough knowledge under their belts by the time they hit retirement age, and can simply sit back and relax in their wealth of information, there are many reasons to continue learning. One, it’s fun to learn new things. Even learning new facts - such as “why is a manilla folder called a manilla folder?” can be interesting. But learning all of the ins and outs of a new subject can be fascinating for seniors and keep life interesting. It not only helps fuel a passion inside of them, it gives them something to strive toward. and something they can talk about with others. It gives them something to work toward.

Two, continuing to learn can have monumental impacts on their cognitive health. The act of actively learning something new - whatever it may be, has been shown to help the overall mental capacity of seniors in many studies. Whether it is computer science or photography, if seniors are learning something new, they are using their brains, and benefiting their wellbeing. In a recent study, a researcher divided older adults into groups and gave them different kinds of activities to do for 15 hours a week, for three months. Some actively pursued new skills, such as quilting and photography, that challenged their long-term memory and attention capabilities as they followed complex instructions. Others did tasks that are considered stimulating to the brain - such as listening to classical music or traveling to a museum, but that didn’t require learning new things. The people in the study that learned new tasks scored higher on memory tests taken after the study. Brain scans also showed lasting changes in areas of the brain associated with attention and concentration in the participants that acquired new knowledge.

Where To Continue to Learn

There are so many places seniors can keep learning. Many local libraries offer classes for free or for a nominal fee. From cooking to learning how to make spreadsheets on the computer, libraries often have courses for seniors. Community colleges as well as four-year colleges and universities offer classes specially geared toward seniors. However, they also welcome seniors to audit other classes, or to enroll in a degree-seeking program.

If it’s the knowledge you want, the sources are out there. There are many online. Or if it’s learning to get online that you want to know, there are many courses for that as well, including at local senior centers. Seniors just need to find something they would like to learn, and the resources are there. Want to learn all about birds? Local birding societies host courses. Looking to learn how to keep local waterways healthy? There are groups for just about anything that interests you out there. Find what sparks your passion and pursue it.

Here To Help

If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one on their learning journey, consider our caregivers at Visiting Angels. We serve seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. We offer everything from companion care to light housekeeping and meal prep.

We will come to your home for a free visit to find out what needs you have, and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information or find us online.

If you are interested in caring for senior clients in the community, visit us online to find out more about a career in home care.