Back to School Isn't Just for Kids: How Seniors Can Keep Learning Too

News shoes. New outfit. New backpack. You might be feeling a little nostalgic for all that goes with back to school. While you might not have your best friend in your class this year like you always hoped you would as a child, you can keep on learning this year with a whole new set of people. Those coeds might be friends you meet in person, or just people you encounter online. Either way, you too can keep on learning this fall just like the kids and grandkids are doing.

Each fall, thousands of seniors enroll in continuing education classes across the country. Many even continue learning on their own, either through books, lectures at the senior center and local park district classes. Often, they don’t even need to leave their house to keep learning, and find new things on YouTube or Zoom. However you want to do it, you can keep learning too.

Great Benefits

While it might seem fun - who doesn’t want to learn something new, there also are great benefits to continuing to learn. Experts say learning new knowledge helps keep seniors cognitively sharp. Countless studies have shown that learning is more than possible well into your golden years. Studies say seniors have just as much ability to learn something new as their younger counterparts do. While it might take a little longer, seniors can learn the knowledge and retain it.

In addition to knowing something new, they also are increasing the cognitive abilities of their brains, studies show. Increasing knowledge also can lead to better memories. Pick something you want to learn, and then pick a way to do it. There are so many options out there for seniors.

Head Back to College

You may already have your degree, but that doesn’t mean you can’t head back to college. If you’re up for it, you can actually head to campus, and enroll in a class, or try to get that master’s degree you always wanted. If you’re just interested in a certain topic, many universities will allow people to audit classes, insead of enrolling in an actual degree program.

Colleges and universities also offer continuing education classes, many specifically geared toward older adults. Seniors can even head back to college without even setting foot on campus. Nearly every college offers some classes that are fully online. Some involve interaction with other students and a professor during live lectures. Others are recorded lectures that you can watch on your time, and assignments that can be done on your schedule.

Local classes

Many local entities offer classes, sometimes geared specifically for seniors, but also for all ages to learn.

Park districts hold cookie classes for nominal fees. Senior centers have lectures on growing poinsettias outside in winter. Even fire stations offer classes on how to do CPR. See what interests you, what is offered locally, and dive right in and enroll. Your brain will thank you later.

Go Online

Though it might seem a bit daunting for some seniors, there is a whole world of knowledge online, and often it is free. You wouldn’t believe what you can learn just by clicking on a few YouTube videos.

If cards are your thing, you can learn how to play gin rummy. If you like music, you can learn to tune a guitar. You can also find free videos on how to change out a toilet, make edible cookie dough or alternate the settings on your iPhone. Whatever your interest is, there is no doubt you can find it online.

You also can do zoom classes, and listen to online lectures from local colleges, universities and experts. TED Talks can teach you about topics you never even knew you wanted to know more about, such as how microbes can eat your trash or why parrots can talk. And if you’re feeling a little bit unsure about how to do all of this, there also are videos online on being technically savvy, with step-by-step instructions.

Still feeling a little unsure about how to do all of this. Many home care agencies, including Visiting Angels Winter Park, have experts that can help. There are people that will come out, and help you safely get onto facebook, Facetime someone and even start your own YouTube channel to show the world how to crochet.

We Can Help

If you are looking for a helper for your senior on their lifelong learning journey, Visiting Angels Winter Park has the compassionate and knowledgeable caregivers that you need. We have experts in technology that can come in and help your senior get online, we have companions that can go for a walk to the library with them, and we have helpers that can drive them to a class, check out books for them and more. Our trained caregivers help people in the Orlando Downtown East, Winter Park and surrounding areas of Orange County. We can come into your home to assess your needs, and discuss how we can help make this journey easier. For information contact us at 407-236-9997.