Higher learning
Challenges facing older adults in continued education By Crystal Cody-Connor, PhD, APRN
T
here are numerous reasons why an older adult makes the decision to return to school. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older.1 That statistic equates to more than 70 million people. Because of these projected numbers, there has been a lot of attention focused on older adults, especially the baby boomer generation. The traditional image of the retired older adult who sits around doing nothing substantive on a daily basis is changing.
The country is now seeing retired older adults starting their own businesses, pursuing new careers, or simply wanting to pursue a higher education to fulfill personal goals. Nurse managers and administrators need to be aware that the older nurses who work at their institutions may make the decision to return to school. There are various reasons why an older nurse may return to school, including advancement or retention at their facility, personal goals, or the desire to obtain new knowledge to become certified in a particular area. With so many older adults remaining active, the U.S. workforce, as well as colleges and www.nursingmanagement.com
universities, must be ready to deal with some of the challenges that will come with these new trends. This article will examine some of the challenges adults may face when pursuing a higher education. Specific barriers First, we must understand who actually makes up the older adult population in the United States. In 2012, there were 43.1 million people in the United States age 65 and older.1 In 1950, the average retirement age was approximately 68 years and the average life expectancy was also around 68 years.1,2 Today, the average retirement age is 62 and life expectancy is 78 years and continues to increase.3 Currently, the older adult population varies greatly with wide diversity in race, educational backgrounds, work experiences, personal/family histories, and income levels. So what are some of the challenges that older adults frequently face when returning to school? Among the challenges are: age and other demographic factors; ageism and other negative attitudes directed toward older adults; and structural issues such as lack of transportation, finances, and lack of knowledge/experience with computers and technology. Aging comes with its own set of challenges, including increased family and work obligations (resulting in a lack of time devoted to education), possible illness, or chronic disease. Older adults have reported that ageism is present within some higher education institutions.4 Older adults may feel that they don’t belong in a typical college classroom. They also have to overcome their own negative thoughts and fears to become active participants in the classroom. Older adults, especially those with lower socioeconomic status, stated that they can’t pursue higher educational opportunities because a lack of transportation prevents them from getting there.5 Nursing Management • June 2015 13
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Higher learning Ways to help There are strategies that both older adults and higher education institutions can do to help ensure successful transition into a higher education program and/or courses. The first thing that an older adult should do is research the colleges or universities that they’re interested in; they should search to determine whether the institution offers courses or a degree in their area of interest. It’s also helpful to visit the institution more than once to make sure that the environment feels comfortable and welcoming. It’s extremely important for older adults to confirm that the institution demonstrates it values adult learners and has support systems in place to assist them.6 Other things that adult learners can do to prepare for a return to school include:
terms that they’ll hear on a regular basis (such as disciplines/ departments, academic honor code, research, registration, and so on). Finally, one of the most challenging skills that older adults don’t often possess is knowledge of current technology and how it’s utilized in higher education. Older adults’ knowledge of computers, social media, and online learning platforms varies greatly for each individual. Adult learners planning to return to school must evaluate their skill level and seek out additional help to ensure that they’ll be prepared when they enter the classroom. Reaching out to adult learners Colleges and universities can also implement strategies and/or policies that will help the older adult achieve success. This includes
Be aware of negative stereotypes that faculty or students may have about the older adult learner. • develop an awareness of how they learn • participate actively in planning, monitoring, and evaluating their education • set educational goals with the assistance of an academic advisor. It’s important to do all of these things to avoid stress from overscheduling. Older adults should familiarize themselves with terminology used in higher education to avoid becoming overwhelmed with the new environment. Higher education institutions have their own culture with different rules and patterns. Adult learners should become familiar with 14 June 2015 • Nursing Management
developing support services specifically tailored to their learning needs, such as streamlining the enrollment, advising, and registration process so that all of those things can be done in one area. Also, students services staff members should be trained to accurately counsel and advise the older adult student. Institutions should focus on outreach to this population and ensure that a thorough orientation and continuous follow-up are conducted. Faculty and staff members at these institutions must also receive training on how to engage older adult students in the classroom and be aware of negative stereotypes that they or their students
may have about the older adult learner. Older adult learners have created an opportunity for colleges and universities across the country. Higher education institutions must develop degree and nondegree programs that will meet the needs of this population. In order to do so, educators, academics, community stakeholders, and policy makers must begin to develop new and different ways to attract older adults to their institutions. NM
REFERENCES 1. Ortman JM, Velkoff VA, Hogan H. An aging nation: the older population in the United States. http://www.census.gov/prod/ 2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf. 2. CDC. Life expectancy at birth, age 65, and at age 75, by sex, race, and Hispanic origin: United States, selected years 19002010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ hus/2011/022.pdf. 3. Riffkin R. Average U.S. retirement age rises to 62. http://www.gallup.com/ poll/168707/average-retirement-agerises.aspx. 4. Portland Community College Task Force on Aging. Boomers go to college: a report on the survey of students 40 and older. http://www.pcc.edu/programs/gerontology/ taskforce-on-aging/documents/boomerreport-final.pdf. 5. American Council on Education. Framing new terrain: older adults and higher education. http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/ documents/older_adults_and_higher_ education.pdf. 6. Viana LP. Three challenges facing adults going back to school. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/07/18/ three-challenges-facing-adults-going-backto-school/. Crystal Cody-Connor is an assistant professor of Nursing at Winston-Salem University in Winston-Salem N.C. The author has disclosed that she has no financial relationships related to this article.
DOI-10.1097/01.NUMA.0000465409.84074.de
www.nursingmanagement.com
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Challenges facing older adults in continued education By Crystal Cody-Connor, PhD, APRN
T
here are numerous reasons why an older adult makes the decision to return to school. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older.1 That statistic equates to more than 70 million people. Because of these projected numbers, there has been a lot of attention focused on older adults, especially the baby boomer generation. The traditional image of the retired older adult who sits around doing nothing substantive on a daily basis is changing.
The country is now seeing retired older adults starting their own businesses, pursuing new careers, or simply wanting to pursue a higher education to fulfill personal goals. Nurse managers and administrators need to be aware that the older nurses who work at their institutions may make the decision to return to school. There are various reasons why an older nurse may return to school, including advancement or retention at their facility, personal goals, or the desire to obtain new knowledge to become certified in a particular area. With so many older adults remaining active, the U.S. workforce, as well as colleges and www.nursingmanagement.com
universities, must be ready to deal with some of the challenges that will come with these new trends. This article will examine some of the challenges adults may face when pursuing a higher education. Specific barriers First, we must understand who actually makes up the older adult population in the United States. In 2012, there were 43.1 million people in the United States age 65 and older.1 In 1950, the average retirement age was approximately 68 years and the average life expectancy was also around 68 years.1,2 Today, the average retirement age is 62 and life expectancy is 78 years and continues to increase.3 Currently, the older adult population varies greatly with wide diversity in race, educational backgrounds, work experiences, personal/family histories, and income levels. So what are some of the challenges that older adults frequently face when returning to school? Among the challenges are: age and other demographic factors; ageism and other negative attitudes directed toward older adults; and structural issues such as lack of transportation, finances, and lack of knowledge/experience with computers and technology. Aging comes with its own set of challenges, including increased family and work obligations (resulting in a lack of time devoted to education), possible illness, or chronic disease. Older adults have reported that ageism is present within some higher education institutions.4 Older adults may feel that they don’t belong in a typical college classroom. They also have to overcome their own negative thoughts and fears to become active participants in the classroom. Older adults, especially those with lower socioeconomic status, stated that they can’t pursue higher educational opportunities because a lack of transportation prevents them from getting there.5 Nursing Management • June 2015 13
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Higher learning Ways to help There are strategies that both older adults and higher education institutions can do to help ensure successful transition into a higher education program and/or courses. The first thing that an older adult should do is research the colleges or universities that they’re interested in; they should search to determine whether the institution offers courses or a degree in their area of interest. It’s also helpful to visit the institution more than once to make sure that the environment feels comfortable and welcoming. It’s extremely important for older adults to confirm that the institution demonstrates it values adult learners and has support systems in place to assist them.6 Other things that adult learners can do to prepare for a return to school include:
terms that they’ll hear on a regular basis (such as disciplines/ departments, academic honor code, research, registration, and so on). Finally, one of the most challenging skills that older adults don’t often possess is knowledge of current technology and how it’s utilized in higher education. Older adults’ knowledge of computers, social media, and online learning platforms varies greatly for each individual. Adult learners planning to return to school must evaluate their skill level and seek out additional help to ensure that they’ll be prepared when they enter the classroom. Reaching out to adult learners Colleges and universities can also implement strategies and/or policies that will help the older adult achieve success. This includes
Be aware of negative stereotypes that faculty or students may have about the older adult learner. • develop an awareness of how they learn • participate actively in planning, monitoring, and evaluating their education • set educational goals with the assistance of an academic advisor. It’s important to do all of these things to avoid stress from overscheduling. Older adults should familiarize themselves with terminology used in higher education to avoid becoming overwhelmed with the new environment. Higher education institutions have their own culture with different rules and patterns. Adult learners should become familiar with 14 June 2015 • Nursing Management
developing support services specifically tailored to their learning needs, such as streamlining the enrollment, advising, and registration process so that all of those things can be done in one area. Also, students services staff members should be trained to accurately counsel and advise the older adult student. Institutions should focus on outreach to this population and ensure that a thorough orientation and continuous follow-up are conducted. Faculty and staff members at these institutions must also receive training on how to engage older adult students in the classroom and be aware of negative stereotypes that they or their students
may have about the older adult learner. Older adult learners have created an opportunity for colleges and universities across the country. Higher education institutions must develop degree and nondegree programs that will meet the needs of this population. In order to do so, educators, academics, community stakeholders, and policy makers must begin to develop new and different ways to attract older adults to their institutions. NM
REFERENCES 1. Ortman JM, Velkoff VA, Hogan H. An aging nation: the older population in the United States. http://www.census.gov/prod/ 2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf. 2. CDC. Life expectancy at birth, age 65, and at age 75, by sex, race, and Hispanic origin: United States, selected years 19002010. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ hus/2011/022.pdf. 3. Riffkin R. Average U.S. retirement age rises to 62. http://www.gallup.com/ poll/168707/average-retirement-agerises.aspx. 4. Portland Community College Task Force on Aging. Boomers go to college: a report on the survey of students 40 and older. http://www.pcc.edu/programs/gerontology/ taskforce-on-aging/documents/boomerreport-final.pdf. 5. American Council on Education. Framing new terrain: older adults and higher education. http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu/ documents/older_adults_and_higher_ education.pdf. 6. Viana LP. Three challenges facing adults going back to school. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/07/18/ three-challenges-facing-adults-going-backto-school/. Crystal Cody-Connor is an assistant professor of Nursing at Winston-Salem University in Winston-Salem N.C. The author has disclosed that she has no financial relationships related to this article.
DOI-10.1097/01.NUMA.0000465409.84074.de
www.nursingmanagement.com
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
